It was fitting that pink sunrise rose above the Smoky Mountains just before people poured into Dollywood on Aug. 26 to celebrate the life of the theme park’s Dreamer-in-Chief. Many of them arrived before the park gates opened at 9 a.m.
This is first time fans get to pay tribute to Dolly Parton inside Parton's eponymous theme park. Dollywood was closed Aug. 25 as previously planned, the same day Parton died in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer and other health issues.
"It's a heavy day to think about what we're all trying to process. I always like to tell people it's OK to be human. It's OK to feel the emotion we're all feeling. Dolly would like that," Dollywood president Eugene Naughton told Knox News.
A memorial has been set up near the
main entrance of the park for guests to leave flowers, teddy bears and other tributes upon entering the park. Naughton said there will be tears, but joy will follow.
“I just want people to know, we're just going to take a minute. We're going to honor her right now. We're going to take care of each other. We're going to take care of the guests, her fans that will undoubtedly be here in the next several weeks to pay tribute to her, and then we'll get rolling.”
And Parton's bright light will always shine at Dollywood, Naughton added. He's already planning ways to continue adding wings to Parton's big dreams.
“We are going to be forever Dollywood Parks and Resorts and she's always going to be here every day," Naughton told Knox News.
"The music that happens on this park, the live entertainment that exists will just be chances for us to authentically connect to what she truly loved about this place, which was being a great place for families to spend more time together. And I think we all know she realized the world needs more of that," Naughton added.
According to its 2026 operating schedule, Dollywood was already scheduled to be open on Aug. 26 and will be closed again on Aug. 27, as well as Sept. 1 and 3. The annual Harvest Festival begins Sept. 14.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Fans gather as Dollywood celebrates Dolly Parton's life and legacy
