† Obituary: Farewell to a Theme Park Icon – Dolly Parton Dies at 80
Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80. // Photo: Courtesy of Dollywood Parks & Resorts
(eap) Yesterday, US country singer, songwriter, actress and theme park icon Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80 in Nashville, Tennessee. Her family and her company, Dollywood Parks & Resorts, announced the news.
“The greatest privilege of my life has been helping Dolly bring her dreams to life at Dollywood,” said Eugene Naughton, Dollywood Parks & Resorts President. “Dolly’s heart was as vast as the mountains she cherished, and her compassion knew no bounds. She inspired generations to dream boldly and love deeply. While we grieve her loss, we are honored and committed to carry her light forward. Her legacy will continue to shine in every melody sung, every smile shared and every dream kindled within these gates.”
Parton created a visible part of this legacy in her home state of Tennessee. When she joined Herschend Family Entertainment as a partner in 1986, the theme park in Pigeon Forge received its present-day name: Dollywood. Through her name, personality and close ties to the Smoky Mountains, she played a defining role in the destination’s further development. In 2025, Dollywood celebrated its 40th operating season, while this year marks the 40th anniversary of the park’s opening under its present name in 1986. The theme park destination in the Smoky Mountains now also includes the outdoor water park Dollywood’s Splash Country, Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. The destination welcomes around three million visitors annually.
Later this year, Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel is set to open in Downtown Nashville. The new hotel is conceived as a tribute to Parton’s life work and will offer interactive experiences centered around her career. It will also include the Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, which is scheduled to open in October. The museum will house the world’s largest exhibition to date dedicated to Parton’s life.
However, Parton’s legacy extends far beyond her music and the theme park. Her positive nature, determination and, above all, her longstanding social commitment distinguished her for decades. Time and again, Parton stood up for others and used her success to support social causes. In doing so, she inspired generations far beyond her artistic career. Today, alongside the theme park industry, countless fans, companions and fellow stars around the world are mourning her loss, as are many people whose lives she touched and supported through her social commitment.
One initiative particularly closely associated with this social commitment is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Parton launched the programme in the mid-1990s. Today, it sends free books every month to children around the world from birth to the age of five, with the aim of fostering an early love for reading and improving educational opportunities. In lieu of flowers, Parton’s family is asking for donations to the programme.
True to the motto “The Show Must Go On”, the Dollywood theme park is operating as usual today, Wednesday – entirely in the spirit of Dolly Parton and her work ethic. Most recently, “NighFlight Expedition”, Dollywood’s newest attraction, opened to visitors. We will report on the new attraction in the next magazine issue of EAP.
With Dolly Parton, the theme park industry has lost a visionary whose legacy extends far beyond a successful theme park operation. She combined entertainment with a deep connection to her roots, optimism and social commitment – and with her warmth and life’s work, she inspired people far beyond the gates of Dollywood. ■
