A Trip to Dollywood: 8 Reasons to Love Dolly Parton

I recently spent a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with my son Matt and his family.  It was a child-focused togetherness day, but the visit prompted me to get to know Dolly Parton a little better. 

Granddaughter at Dollywood

The amusement park, named the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice number one theme park in the United States this year, was crowded that August Monday (I’ve since learned Mondays are always busy days) but the children didn’t seem to care 

Grandson on the Black Near Trail at Dollywood

Everyone, including me, rode the grandparent-friendly Black Bear Trail, which is perfect for very young children, too. Admittedly, I felt a little silly atop a life-sized bouncy bear, but there were no splashes, drops, or spins and the on and off was easy.

Son and grandson in the Imagination Playhouse

My favorite attraction was the Imagination Playhouse that showcases Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and where young children can learn more about books while interacting with displays before entering a theater where they are welcomed by Dolly (not usually in person, but a life-sized film version). They’re entertained by a talented cast acting out classic children’s books. The sets are creative and bright; the one we saw captured my four-year-old grandson’s attention for the entire 20-minute musical. 

son, grandson, and me waiting for the show in the Imagination Playhouse, Dollywood

Dolly Parton created the Imagination Library as a tribute to her Daddy.  She says, “He was the smartest man I have ever known but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams.” This worldwide program mails monthly age-appropriate books at no charge to more than 3 million children. While the county where I live in Florida does not have a program, there are 43 programs in Florida. To find out if your state or county has a program, follow the links on this WEBSITE. Here, you can sign up a child under five if there is a program in their area; there is no charge to participate.

As a writer, I wholeheartedly encourage what the Imagination Library suggests: that parents and caregivers begin reading to children from birth. They encourage reading aloud at least 15 minutes each day because it offers children the best start to their education. How better to encourage imagination, reading skills, and a love of books while pairing parents, grandparents, and caregivers with their littles?

I can’t write about Dolly and the Imagination Library without mentioning my sister, who is coordinator of her county’s Imagination Library affiliate in Tennessee and an enthusiastic reading advocate. I’m so proud of her for the hundreds of hours she donates each year to this program and her commitment to increasing literacy skills by encouraging reading.

On my drive back from Tennessee, I kept thinking about Dolly and what an amazing, accomplished person this tiny Tennessee musician is.  I listened enthusiastically to her audiobook, Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.  I enjoyed every minute of the four- and one-half hours that were peppered with her music and her voice. I found the interviews with her wardrobe collaborators fascinating. I now understand how she developed her personal style and applaud her for ignoring those who thought her makeup and tight clothing were “trashy.” There is only one Dolly!

“I had to resist a lot of advice” she said about her early days developing her style. “I’ve stuck to the motto ‘To thine own self be true,’” she says. “I value my freedom to look like and be my own true self more than anything else … Whoever you are, be that!”

Eight Reasons I Love Dolly Parton

1.     Dolly is a woman of faith and is not hesitant to say so.

2.     She believes in being thrifty and hasn’t forgotten about growing up poor and “making do.”

3.     She has her own personal style that she is confident in.

4.     She encourages others to be themselves.

5.     She helps others through her charities and many contributions.

6.     She set goals early in life and continues to work on them.

7.     She encourages those who have self-image issues.

8.     She supports literacy in a very big way.

I have no desire to emulate Dolly’s style, but I can’t help but love her for who she is and what she’s accomplished.  It doesn’t hurt that she wrote and performed one of my favorite songs, released in 1974, “I Will Always Love You.” And now that I know her better, I will always love her.

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Thousands more children could benefit from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library if they had an affiliate serving their area. Even my own county does not yet have a program. While the national organization helps keep the costs low, it requires local sponsors and volunteer power. For more information, first find out if you have a local affiliate HERE. If not, you can request information on how to go about starting one HERE.

This blog originally appeared in the Fernandina Beach News Leader on September 3, 2025