Gatlinburg will always love you
Thank you, Dolly.
We hope you always knew how much we loved you. Cherished daughter and shooting star of Sevier County, you flew Appalachia’s banner across the world for decades. Now, we promise to never stop flying yours.
As your star rose, Dolly, you lifted us up with you. Never forgetting your raising, you delighted in your family, your region, and your path. With gratitude, hard work, and your distinct brand of down-home genius, you transformed difficult circumstances into tremendous beauty – much like your mother did when she stitched your Coat of Many Colors with love and care.
Nobody put Appalachia on the map like you did, Dolly. Even more importantly, nobody ever revealed our region’s worth with such authenticity and power. You represented the best parts of our region, and you never looked down on your roots.
You took our region out of the punchline, showing the world that we got the joke. Your charm shattered stereotypes, as did your homespun artistry, angelic voice, and brilliant storytelling. Your intelligence shone through in your endeavors, your commercial success, and your philanthropy. Your warmth reflected the hands that built our humble mountain homes, fed us, tended our fires, said grace, and held us all together.
Coming from Sevier County, you knew firsthand the particular challenges our neighbors have faced. Quietly and purposefully you worked on solutions. From facing down illiteracy through your Imagination Library to incentivizing local students to graduate from high school, your gifts have improved countless lives. You made Sevier County a healthier place to live, helping build the LeConte Medical Center and your Dolly Parton Center for Women’s Services, where babies are born in a wing named in your honor. We will never forget your generosity after the 2016 wildfires, when your gifts helped hundreds of families make ends meet after losing everything.
Reflecting on your myriad contributions, a golden thread shines through. Like your music, your solutions brought people together. All your life, you were pointing us back to caring for each other. Your legacy is built on love.
Dolly, thank you for the prosperity you brought to Sevier County and the Smokies. Your gift of Dollywood and its surrounding properties brings year-round tourism to Gatlinburg and all of Sevier County. Today, we’re a treasured destination all year long, and much credit goes to you. Beyond the gates of your own businesses, we recognize that our economic strength owes a debt of gratitude to your vision and investment in your roots.
You knew the beauty of the Smokies from the inside-out, and you invited other people to come see for themselves. Gatlinburg and Sevier County as we know it today would look mighty different without your voice turning hearts (and trips) toward the Smokies.
By loving your roots and sharing your gifts, you made life better for us all. Dolly, you left us with only sweet memories. For that, and for so much more, we will truly always love you.
