Dollywood Will Stay Open After Dolly Parton's Death: 'The Show Must Go On'

Dollywood confirmed it will remain open following the death of its founder, Dolly Parton, who passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at age 80 after a brief cancer battle. The Tennessee theme park announced the decision in a statement dated August 25 and published on its own media page, saying that continuing operations was what Parton had wanted Billboard.

The park had already been closed Tuesday as previously scheduled, making Wednesday, Aug. 26 the first day Dollywood greeted guests since Parton's death. In its statement, the park said Parton's "heartfelt wish" was that Dollywood "always remain a place of joy, hope and togetherness where families could honor her memory with laughter, music and shared dreams." The statement closed with a line that left no room for ambiguity: "the show must go on" Billboard.

Dollywood's president, Eugene Naughton, said the park is "honored and committed to carry Parton's light forward." Parton held the title "Dreamer-in-Chief" at the park, a role she occupied since co-founding Dollywood in 1986 on the property previously known as Rebel Railroad in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains WVLT.

Parton had been scheduled to appear at Dollywood before her death to support the opening of the park's new NightFlight Expedition ride but cancelled due to then-unspecified health issues. In a video played at the ride's Aug. 14 opening, Parton told attendees that her Nashville doctor had told her she was not traveling that week Billboard.

The loss comes after a difficult stretch for Parton personally. Dollywood's 40th anniversary celebration in March 2025 took place less than two weeks after the death of her husband, Carl Dean Billboard.

Beyond rides and entertainment, Dollywood fuels philanthropic projects tied to Parton's legacy, including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which has mailed free books to young children, and the Grow U Program, which offers 100% tuition coverage for Dollywood employees Billboard.

For the families walking through the gates on Wednesday, the park's decision means that the place Parton built in the Smoky Mountains will keep doing what she asked of it: staying open, hosting music, and giving people a reason to gather rather than a reason to stay away.