08/25/2026
🕊️ THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS HAVE LOST ONE OF THEIR BRIGHTEST LIGHTS
Today, our hearts are heavy as East Tennessee, the Smoky Mountains, and people around the world mourn the passing of Dolly Parton.
Dolly was so much more than a country music legend.
She was a daughter of the Smoky Mountains who never forgot where she came from. From humble beginnings in the mountains of East Tennessee, she carried the spirit of this region with her as she became one of the most recognized and beloved entertainers in the world.
And as her star grew, she gave back.
Her vision helped transform Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains into a destination known around the world. Generations of families have traveled here because of the experiences she helped create, supporting countless local businesses, entertainers, restaurants, hotels and working families along the way.
But perhaps Dolly’s greatest legacy will be the lives she touched away from the spotlight.
Through her extraordinary generosity, her commitment to education and literacy, the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, disaster relief efforts and countless acts of kindness, she showed that success means even more when it is used to lift up others.
She made East Tennessee proud.
She made the Smoky Mountains proud.
And she showed the world that you could come from a little cabin in the mountains, dream bigger than anyone thought possible, achieve those dreams — and still remember home.
For those of us who live and work in Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains, Dolly’s impact is all around us. Her legacy is woven into the story of this community, and it will remain here for generations to come.
Today we join our friends, neighbors, the entertainment community and millions of fans around the world in remembering an extraordinary life.
Thank you, Dolly, for the music.
Thank you for the laughter.
Thank you for your generosity.
Thank you for believing in these mountains and the people who call them home.
The Smoky Mountains will never be quite the same without you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Dolly’s family, friends, loved ones and everyone whose life was touched by her remarkable journey.
Rest in peace, Dolly. Your mountains will always remember you. 🕊️
— Steven Best’s Smoky Mountain Theater