Dolly Parton’s latest major tourism project in Nashville opened on September 29, just weeks after the death of the country music star at the age of 80. The SongTeller Hotel, which includes the 20,000-square-foot Life of Many Colors Museum, had been developed over four years at a cost of approximately £96 million.
The 245-room hotel is located in downtown Nashville, close to Lower Broadway, the city’s famous Honky Tonk Highway. Its position places guests near the live music district while keeping the accommodation far enough away from the busiest nightlife areas.
The building, previously used as offices, has been transformed with a pink-and-white exterior, a 20-foot guitar installation and a large rainbow mural. SongTeller marketing executive Brittany Fryman said Parton had personally pushed for the property, even though it was not originally on the market.
Most existing tenants agreed to leave, but one held out, delaying the completion of 60 rooms until spring or summer 2027.
Museum Uses Holograms to Tell Parton’s Story
The Life of Many Colors Museum takes visitors through Parton’s childhood, music career, stage performances and personal life in an experience lasting approximately 90 minutes.
Footage recorded in March allows the late singer to narrate the exhibition through holographic appearances displayed in picture frames, television screens and other installations. The technology presents Parton telling her own story throughout the museum.
Among the exhibits is a recreation of the Appalachian cabin where she grew up with her 11 siblings. Visitors can also watch footage from her 1967 television debut alongside country singer Porter Wagoner.
The exhibition includes items from Parton’s extensive stage wardrobe, including wigs, high heels, sequined outfits and other costumes associated with her performances.
One of the newly revealed displays features her wedding dress from 1966. The simple gown, made by her mother, was discovered in a trunk connected to the military service of her late husband, Carl Dean, approximately two years ago.
The dress is displayed in a recreation of the Wishy Washy Laundrette, where Parton first met Dean.
Museum Concert Ends With Emotional Tribute
The museum experience concludes with a short concert featuring footage of Parton performing a selection of her best-known songs.
The performance ends with I Will Always Love You, one of the singer’s most recognisable songs. Visitors are offered tissues at the back of the room during the presentation.
Fryman said the hotel had received a significant increase in interest from fans wanting to visit since news of Parton’s death emerged.
Restaurants, Bars and Music Venues Inside the Hotel
The SongTeller Hotel includes several food and entertainment spaces in addition to its museum and accommodation.
Jolene’s, located on the 11th floor, is a lounge bar with views across the Cumberland River. Its drinks menu includes the £12 Locust Ridge cocktail, made with bourbon and prosecco and named after the community where Parton grew up.
The food offering includes small plates such as oysters, salads and truffle fries, alongside glazed pork belly skewers inspired by Parton’s stated preference for meat served on a stick.
On the second floor, Parton’s Live provides a dining and music venue where established and emerging country performers can entertain guests. The space also accommodates songwriting sessions and features a large table designed in the shape of a decorated guitar.
The property also has a café serving pastries and a souvenir shop selling themed merchandise, including guitar-shaped kitchen accessories.
Guest Rooms Include Tributes to Parton’s Fans
The hotel’s bedrooms feature a more restrained version of the building’s colourful design, with comfortable beds and individual decorative details.
Some rooms contain murals created using concert ticket stubs collected by a British Parton fan over many years. Vinyl record players are also provided, while hairdryers have been given the playful name of wig dryers.
The hotel includes the Six Sisters Suite, a three-bedroom accommodation featuring vintage Hollywood-style dressing tables and views of Nashville’s skyline. Its design references the close relationship Parton shared with her five sisters.
Dolly Parton’s Final Public Project Was a Tennessee Travel Stop
Parton’s tourism ventures also include a service station in Cornersville, Tennessee, which she launched during what became her final public appearance in June.
Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop is located along Pulaski Highway and combines a fuel station with a Southern-style restaurant, barbecue café and live country music.
The menu includes cinnamon bread, brisket and peach cobbler, while visitors can also buy merchandise and view photographs, recipes, guitars and rhinestone decorations associated with the singer.
At the opening, Parton spoke about her decades spent travelling for work and said her experience on the road made her a suitable person to operate a travel stop.
She said she had been travelling since 1967 and had become familiar with service stations across the United States.
Grand Ole Opry Remains a Major Part of Parton’s Nashville Story
Another important destination for visitors following Parton’s career is the Grand Ole Opry, widely known as the Mother Church of Country Music.
Parton first performed at the original Opry venue, the Ryman Auditorium, in 1959, when she was 13. She was introduced on stage by Johnny Cash.
The Grand Ole Opry House moved to its present location at Opry Mills in 1974, approximately 20 minutes from downtown Nashville. It continues to host live country music performances featuring both established performers and emerging artists.
Visitors can attend one of its radio shows, with tickets costing approximately £45.
Locust Ridge Offers a Look at Parton’s Childhood
Parton’s early life can be explored further in Locust Ridge, a remote community in the Southern Appalachian region of East Tennessee, approximately 215 miles east of Nashville.
The area surrounding her childhood home remains largely rural, with much of the landscape retaining its traditional character.
Parton grew up in a small cabin with her six brothers, five sisters and parents, Avie and Robert Lee. She later purchased land around the property and restricted access to protect the area from visitors.
The singer also took steps to safeguard the nearby family cemetery, where relatives are buried, from unwanted attention.
Rather than directing fans to the private childhood property, visitors are encouraged to explore Dollywood, located about 12 miles west.
Sevierville Honours the Singer’s Early Career
The nearby city of Sevierville also features prominently in Parton’s history. She received her first paid stage opportunity at the Pines Theater in 1956, when she was just 10 years old.
The city commemorates her career with a bronze statue outside the historic Sevier County Courthouse. Created by local artist Jim Gray, the statue was installed in 1987 and continues to attract visitors.
Two months after Parton’s death, tourists were still arriving to photograph the monument, which had been surrounded by floral tributes.
Local business owner Mark Ailey, who operates Off the Chain Bicycles on Bruce Street, said Parton had been regarded as a member of the community.
He also recalled how his son received a $15,000 college scholarship through a foundation supporting young people in Sevier County.
Dollywood Continues to Support East Tennessee
Parton’s first major tourism venture, Dollywood, opened in 1986 in the region where she grew up. The theme park, alongside the neighbouring Dollywood’s Splash Country water park, has become a major employer in East Tennessee.
The attraction combines rollercoasters and other rides with features celebrating the area’s Appalachian heritage.
Visitors can experience attractions including Big Bear Mountain, Wild Eagle and Thunderhead, as well as traditional craft stalls, a working blacksmith’s shop, a chapel and a country fair.
Food outlets serve Southern dishes such as ham, hand-breaded fried chicken and cornbread. Aunt Granny’s Restaurant and Granny Ogle’s Ham ‘n’ Beans are among the dining venues.
The park attracts visitors across different age groups, including families with young children and older guests who visit for its food, shopping and surroundings.
Visitor Information for Dolly Parton’s Tennessee Attractions
Doubles at the SongTeller Hotel start at approximately £266 per night, while admission to the Life of Many Colors Museum costs around £27.50 for adults and £22.30 for children.
Dollywood tickets start at approximately £71 for visitors aged 10 and above. Children aged four to nine and visitors aged over 62 pay from £63.
Accommodation options in the wider area include the KOA campground in Pigeon Forge, where cabins start at approximately £37, and The Graduate in Nashville, where double rooms start at around £177 per night.
