Although it had been previously announced that she would not be participating in any of the opening week festivities at her Dolly opened her first Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop, in Cornersville, Tenn., officials informed the crowds gathered for Wednesday's ribbon cutting shortly before it was to take place that she was, in fact, on her way to visit for the festivities. She held a promotional photo shoot inside the store and briefly addressed the crowd outside (joking that when folks ask why she wants to own a truck stop she tells them "I couldn't leave it to beavers" – a good-natured swipe at Buc-ee's mascot), and cut the ribbon with her business partner in the chain, Greg Sachs, as butterfly confetti rained on the crowd and Dolly's new jingle for the store played over the speakers. Check out some footage from the event set to the entire jingle recording in the official opening video montage from Instagram here or in the media player above. See additional coverage from Paradehere, WSMV here and Reuters Connect photos here. Also, The Tennessean shared a clip from her remarks to the crowd to Facebook here and in the media player below.
'Still Working 9 To 5' Hits YouTube For Free
Documentary+ has acquired the online streaming rights to the documentary Still Working 9 To 5 (featuring Dolly, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Allison Janney, several activists, and Dabney Coleman in his final filmed appearance) and debuted it over the weekend for free viewing on its YouTube channel here and in the media player above.
Dollywood Ranked No. 2 For Best Value Using Tripadvisor feedback on pricing and overall value, digital platform Achieve recently released a study ranking the nation's best values for attractions, and Dollywood came in second behind Kennedy Space Center. The study noted: "The beloved theme park earns high praise from travelers for blending exhilarating roller coasters, world-class live entertainment and authentic mountain hospitality into an affordable, family-focused package."
Maine Imagination Library Closing For Lack Of Funds Maine's affiliate of Dolly's Imagination Library early childhood literacy program has become the most recent victim to fundraising challenges in the current economy, announcing it will cease operations. Learn more from WMTW here.
On the U.S. charts, Carpenter is at No. 38 pop and Post Malone's F 1 Trillion, with its Dolly duet, is No. 83 pop and No. 20 country.
Down Under, Carpenter is No. 10 Australian pop albums while Post Malone is No. 7 Australian country and No. 46 Australian pop albums.
June 23: Dollywood's NightFlight Delayed To Mid-August
Dollywood President Eugene Naughton last week released a video to social media here and in the media player above announcing the new anticipated opening date for the park's largest-ever and most expensive ride, NightFlight Exhibition, a first of its kind in the world attraction combining flight, a coaster, whitewater rapids boating, and lake sailing in an indoor dark ride themed around bioluminescence. Originally planned for a spring opening (the park's new attractions traditionally open in May), construction delays have pushed their target opening to mid-August, he revealed. In other news, the park this week announced it had been named to the 2026 Greatest Workplaces in America and Greatest Workplaces in Tennessee lists from Newsweek.
New Frozen Desserts Debut Dolly's Conagra food line has expanded once again with three new single-serving frozen desserts: Cookies 'n Custard Frozen Dessert Cups in banana crème, vanilla shortbread, and chocolate mud pie flavors. The cups contain a frozen custard with cookie pieces layered throughout and are edible after a few minutes of thawing.
Dolly's Travel Stop Opens This Week Although Dolly will not be in attendance at any of the events, her new travel stop, Dolly's Tennessean, in Cornersville, Tenn., announced its grand opening schedule for this week and next: the fun starts at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday with the launch of her coffee brand, live music, food samples, and giveaways and continues daily through a 5 p.m. finale event on July 3 with games, bounce houses, and fireworks.
Oregon Library Becomes Official Oregon's statewide Imagination Library program with Dolly has become an official state program with permanent funding, thanks to a new law signed last week by Gov. Tina Kotek. Read more from KGW here.
On the U.S. charts, Carpenter is at No. 36 pop and Post Malone's F 1 Trillion, with its Dolly duet, is No. 84 pop and No. 19 country.
Down Under, Carpenter is No. 15 Australian pop albums while Post Malone is No. 7 Australian country and No. 48 Australian pop albums.
June 16: Dolly Coffee Coming Soon
Dolly last week announced her new partnership with Community Coffee to sell Cup of Ambition coffee in light, medium, and dark roasts and both ground and K-cup versions. The first taste will be offered at the opening of Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop outside of Nashville on June 24, with in-store retail availability nationwide later this year. In a press release, Dolly said: "I've spent a lifetime workin' 9 to 5, 5 to 9, and every hour in between! It takes a lot of energy to pursue your passion and navigate each day. That's why I wanted to make a coffee that works just as hard. You know, I begin each morning with a head full of dreams, a notepad full of ideas, and a cup or two of coffee. Whether you're chasing dreams, tackling that to-do list, or just enjoying a quiet morning at home. I hope it brings a smile with every sip." Click on provided images for larger versions.
Florida Pirates Voyage May Add Arcade Dolly's newest Pirates Voyage in Panama City Beach, Fla., wants to add next door to their theater a single-story arcade, mini-golf course, electric go-kart track, and a building that would showcase traveling exhibits, such as of artifacts from Dolly's two Titanic museums in Branson and Pigeon Forge. Read more from WJHG here.
Dollywood Enters Summer, Extends Public Sale Dollywood launched its Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration on Monday with a nightly dance party before fireworks and drones, Gazillion Bubble Show: Evolution, Perondi's Stunt Dog Experience, Play On, Wings of America, Imagination Playhouse (with "Coat Of Many Colors," "The Little Engine That Could," "Something Wild," "Llama Llama Red Pajama" and "Peter Rabbit"), Kite Sky, patriotic décor, and special culinary offerings. In addition, the park has expanded Public Employee Appreciation Days through June 28 with one-day admission tickets for $59 per person for military, first responders, school employees, government employees, and medical employees verified through ID.me here.
'Smoky Mountain Memories' Cover Released
Bluegrass darlings Dailey & Vincent last week released their new album, A Beautiful Life, with a cover of Dolly's "Smoky Mountain Memories". Stream it on YouTube here or in the media player above or download it from Amazon here.
U.K., U.S., Aussie Chart Updates Across the pond, Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 retains the top spot on the British country compilation albums chart at No. 1, while Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection stays at No. 11, Emmylou Harris' first installment in the Original Album Series falls out of the top 20, down from No. 16, while Linda Ronstadt's installment remains at No. 19 while The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe re-enters the top 20 at No. 20. Sabrina Carpenter's Short & Sweet Deluxe Edition, with its Dolly duet, finds itself at No. 33 pop. Post Malone's F 1 Trillion, with its Dolly duet, falls back out of the British country albums top 20, down from No. 20.
On the U.S. charts, Carpenter is at No. 40 pop and Post Malone is No. 89 pop and No. 18 country.
Down Under, Carpenter is No. 15 Australian pop albums while Post Malone is No. 6 Australian country and No. 50 Australian pop albums.
June 9: New Dolly Podcast, 'Dollyology,' Debuts Dollyology, a new podcast about Dolly, debuted last week with an interview with niece, Dolly Parton Archives director and incoming director of the Life of Many Colors Museum in Nashville Rebecca Seaver and Dolly Archives historian Christian Ferguson. They offer a great preview of the SongTeller Hotel's new Dolly museum and how their work to preserve her legacy and historical artifacts happens. (And thanks for the kind words and shout-out to this site in their discussion!) Take a listen via Audible here, Spotify here and Apple Podcasts here.
Hotel Preview Published By 'Attractions' Attractions magazine last week released a preview of Dolly's SongTeller Hotel in Nashville. Read it here.
Dolly Makes Second List Of 'NYT' Best Songwriters After the blowback on their music industry insiders' poll of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, the New York Times conducted a public poll of their readers' 100 favorite living American songwriters, and again Dolly made the list. The public votes were ranked, unlike the top 30, and Dolly came in eighth. The top 10 were Bob Dylan at No. 1, Paul Simon, Bruce Springstein, Carole King, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Dolly, James Taylor, and Willie Nelson. All of the top 10 except Billy Joel and James Taylor made the original 30 list. Read more from MSN here or behind the Times' paywall here.
U.K., U.S., Aussie Chart Updates Across the pond, Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 retains the top spot on the British country compilation albums chart at No. 1, while Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection inches up one to No. 11, Emmylou Harris' first installment in the Original Album Series slips 14 to No. 16 while Linda Ronstadt's installment gains one to No. 19 while Emmy's second installment falls back out of the top 20, down from No. 12 (all three contain several Dolly collaborations. Sabrina Carpenter's Short & Sweet Deluxe Edition, with its Dolly duet, finds itself at No. 28 pop. Post Malone's F 1 Trillion, with its Dolly duet, re-enters the British country albums top 20 at No. 20 while Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, with its Dolly appearances, falls back out of the country top 20, down from No. 18.
On the U.S. charts, Carpenter is at No. 33 pop and Post Malone is No. 81 pop and No. 18 country.
Down Under, Carpenter is No. 15 Australian pop albums while Post Malone is No. 8 Australian country and No. 47 Australian pop albums.
June 2: Dolly Travel Stop Opening June 24 Dolly last week revealed that the first of her Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop locations will celebrate its grand opening June 24 at the flagship location at I-65 exist 22 in Cornersville, Tenn., about an hour south of Nashville. The stop will feature DLY BBQ, a coffee shop called Dolly's Cup of Ambition, a full sit-down restaurant and café, fueling stations for trucks and cars, an original mural, performance spaces for local musicians, and a tour bus inspired by Dolly's that guests may tour and photograph (her actual retired tour busses are on display at Dollywood and as a premium guest room at its DreamMore Resort). Additional grand opening details are expected in coming weeks. Property plans courtesy Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop. Click on image for larger view.
Songteller Hotel Delays Until September Dolly's SongTeller Hotel and Life of Many Colors Museum in downtown Nashville are behind schedule and won't open until fall instead of summer, developers announced last week in The Nashville Business Journal. Reservations are available for stays starting Sept. 15.
U.K., U.S., Aussie Chart Updates Across the pond, Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 retains the top spot on the British country compilation albums chart at No. 1, while Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection tumbles 10 spots to No. 12, Emmylou Harris' first installment in the Original Album Series rises one to No. 2 while her second installment inches up one to No. 12 and Linda Ronstadt's installment dips three to No. 20 (all three contain several Dolly collaborations), and Ultimate Dolly Parton falls back out of the top 20, down from No. 20. Sabrina Carpenter's Short & Sweet Deluxe Edition, with its Dolly duet, finds itself at No. 25 pop. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, with its Dolly appearances, re-enters the country top 20 at No. 18.
On the U.S. charts, Carpenter is at No. 35 pop and Post Malone's F 1 Trillion, with its Dolly duet, is No. 90 pop and No. 18 country.
Down Under, Carpenter is No. 13 Australian pop albums while Post Malone is No. 7 Australian country and No. 43 Australian pop albums.
