Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park to expand after famed singer's death

Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News on Sep 2, 2026

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Just like Dolly Parton’s legend, her theme park continues to grow.

Dollywood officials announced during a Wednesday press conference that the Tennessee amusement center will move forward with expansion plans the 80-year-old country superstar approved prior to her death last week, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The afternoon event reportedly began with a video tribute honoring Parton. It ended with Heidi Parton Kin and Friends — a band headed by the singer’s niece — performing the Grammy Award-winning star’s 1980 hit “9 to 5.”

Parks & Resorts president Eugene Naughton reportedly told fans that moving forward is important “because Dolly would be telling us to get back to work.” Among some of the planned additions are a waterfall, new and expanded walking tours highlighting the country crooner’s life and special tribute banners.

Parton died Aug. 25 after a brief hospital stay at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. Her niece Jada Star told Extra that her famously generous aunt kept her illness private out of concern for others.

“She never wanted to worry anybody,” Star said.

Parton’s manager Danny Nozell quelled fans’ concerns that the projects his longtime client had in the works might fall by the wayside, assuring the public last week that wouldn’t be the case.

“Many projects were in various stages of development, and we want to be transparent with her fans about this fact,” Nozell told the Hollywood Reporter.

Those plans include a Dolly avatar show, a musical documentary, a biopic, a docuseries and a scripted series.

In addition to leaving behind a team to see her vision through, Parton is said to have overseen a “road map that will guide us for decades to come.”

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