Following the death of music icon Dolly Parton at the age of 80 this week, fans are looking to the Dolly Parton Experience at Dollywood as a way to connect with her remarkable journey. Opened in 2024, this attraction serves as a comprehensive tribute to the singer’s life, career, and enduring influence.
The experience is housed across multiple buildings and is three times larger than the former Chasing Rainbows Museum. It offers an intimate look at the entertainer’s history, ranging from her early days as a newcomer in Nashville to her status as a global superstar.
Attraction Highlights
- SongtellerLocated in the former museum space, this exhibit traces Parton’s childhood in Locust Ridge through her rise to fame. It features personal artifacts, including a replica of her famous “coat of many colors,” the original dry cleaning receipt used to draft the song’s lyrics, and various guitars, such as a rhinestone-covered Gibson used during her 2005 tour.
- Behind the SeamsDesigned to feel like a walk-in closet, this area showcases the star’s iconic wardrobe, including shoes, wigs, and stage costumes like the bell-bottom jumpsuit from her 1970s variety show. Visitors can also interact with a digital stylist feature to dress a cartoon version of Parton.
- Precious MemoriesSituated near the Dreamsong Theater, this exhibit focuses on Parton’s family and faith, featuring childhood photos and narration recorded by the singer herself.
A highlight of the exhibit is the inclusion of audio recordings where Parton reflects on her early career. In one poignant segment, she reads a letter sent to her parents after moving to Nashville: “I got to Nashville OK, and I thought I’d better write and let you know ‘cause I knew you’d worried about me, and I don’t want you to be worried about me ‘cause I’m gonna be alright. If I try long enough and hard enough, someday I’ll make it.”
Cyndi McCormack, vice president of guest experience at Dollywood and creative director of the project, noted that the team intentionally used Parton’s own voice to guide guests. “We had her record the stories in studio,” McCormack said. “We believe Dolly tells her own stories better than any of us.”
The attraction also features a 360-degree projection-mapped show that transports viewers to significant landmarks in her life, such as the Ryman Auditorium. Additionally, one of her former motor coaches, which was in service from 1994 to 2009, is on display, alongside the Dolly’s Fan Shop boutique.
Visitor Information
- EligibilityThe attraction is open to all park guests.
- CostThere is no additional fee for the experience; it is included with valid park admission.
The Dolly Parton Experience is part of a broader 10-year, half-billion-dollar investment campaign for Dollywood announced in 2021. Reflecting on her vision for the park and her life, Parton previously shared her philosophy on growth: “That’s what’s great about dreams. You dream new dreams every day, and dreams expand. And I’ve always said you put wings and feet and legs on them.” The report also notes that “I hope that’s what people can feel,” Parton said at the time of the opening. The report also notes that those include an acoustic Gibson covered in paisley-pattern rhinestones that she used during a 2005 tour. The report also notes that in the building directly opposite – formerly the Dolly’s Closet boutique – Behind the Seams feels like stepping into a giant walk-in closet. The report also notes that rebecca Seaver, Dolly’s niece and director of museum and archive services, said at the time of the opening that her aunt was “known for her songwriting and her look, and so it’s nice to have all of those facets of who she is kind of represented in a really, really stunning way.”. The report also notes that though, parton blushed at some of her past looks when she looked back. The report also notes that “I just laugh out loud sometimes,” she said at the time.