tour dolly parton's childhood home

Can You Visit Dolly Parton’s Childhood Home?

By: Author The Drivin' & Vibin' Team

Posted on October 26, 2021

Can You Visit Dolly Parton’s Childhood Home?

Have you ever wanted to see Dolly Parton’s childhood home? 

Do you know where it is? And once you find it, can you tour it? 

Keep reading to find out about the house, where it is, and what you can do once you get there.

Let’s explore!

Who Is Dolly Parton?

Dolly Parton has a career spanning over six decades. Parton can do it all: sing, write, play instruments, and act. She is also a successful businesswoman and humanitarian.

Born in Sevierville, Tennessee, on January 19, 1946, Dolly is the fourth of 12 children. She married Carl Thomas Dean in 1966, and they’re still together.

Where Is Dolly Parton’s Childhood Home?

Dolly Parton’s childhood home is a 2-room house on Locust Ridge Road in Sevierville, Tennessee. The small mountain home is about 30 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and about 60 minutes from Knoxville. 

Pro Tip: Exploring Smoky Mountain National Park? We found the perfect Smoky Mountain Campgrounds For RV Owners .

Can You Tour Dolly Parton’s Childhood Home?

Although you can drive up the mountain along Locust Ridge Road, you won’t be able to find the house because a tall fence surrounds it. You can, however, visit a replica of Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. 

Walking through is like traveling back to the 40s and 50s in Sevier County.

Dolly’s brother designed the home, and her mother decorated the inside with many of the family’s original furnishings.

Does Dolly Parton Still Own Dollywood?

Before there was Dollywood, the area was home to a handful of attractions. The first one, started in 1961, was a small-scaled attraction with a steam train called “Rebel Railroad.” 

After years of the amusement park expanding and changing hands, Dollywood was officially born in 1986. In that year, Dolly Parton became a part-owner of Dollywood alongside the Herschend brothers, Jack and Pete. 

Things To Do Near Dolly Parton’s Childhood Home

Dollywood is in Pigeon Forge and just outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you’re looking for fun and recreation without the ticks, check out the Pigeon Forge Riverwalk and Island in Pigeon Forge.

Pigeon Forge Riverwalk

The Pigeon Forge Riverwalk is a paved out-and-back trail that runs along the West Prong Little Pigeon River. It’s anywhere from 2.7 miles to 6 miles, depending on who you ask.

The Riverwalk is a great trail for walking, running, biking, and birding. Lamp posts light up the path at night, and benches allow walkers to rest along the way. 

You can access the trail at three different points: Patriot Park, LeConte Convention Center, and Butler Street at Ashley Avenue. If you follow the path to Island Drive, you’ll find yourself at The Island in Pigeon Forge.

The Island in Pigeon Forge

The Island in Pigeon Forge is an all-ages amusement park on an island along the West Prong Little Pigeon River. In addition to rides and recreation, The Island has plenty of shopping and restaurants to satisfy the entire family.

The park is approximately 11 minutes east of Dollywood, with free admission and parking. Rides, arcades, and other games do require a fee, though. 

The island is famous for its Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, a 200-foot-high Ferris wheel with jaw-dropping views of the Smokies.

The Island Show Fountain, which shoots water 60 feet into the air choreographed to light and music, is also a popular stop.

Best Camping Near Dollywood

Extend your stay to discover everything that Pigeon Forge has to offer. Camp out less than 15 minutes from Dollywood at The Ridge Outdoor Resort and Duvall in the Smokies RV Campground.

The Ridge Outdoor Resort

Located 10 minutes away from Dollywood, The Ridge Outdoor Resort opened in 2019. The park includes over 150 campsites, with more to come.

All sites are paved and have full hookups. The resort also has signature sites with outdoor wood-burning fireplaces and individual hot tubs!

Location : 1250 Middle Creek Road, Sevierville, TN 37862

Duvall in the Smokies RV Campground

This waterfront campground is located 12 minutes from Dollywood. Duvall in the Smokies RV Campground has 29 paved campsites with full hookups.

The campground is western-themed and offers campers a free hour of kayak rentals. A pool will be available in the future, so check back with the owners for a status update. 

Location : 1518 Dolly Parton Parkway, Sevierville, TN 37862

Pro Tip: On a budget, but still want to explore Tennessee? Try out one of these 5 Best Free Camping Spots in Tennessee .

Is a Trip to Dolly Parton’s Childhood Home Worth It? 

Yes! Not only can you tour the replica of Dolly Parton’s childhood home, but you can spend a fun day at Dollywood. After that, take a relaxing walk along the Pigeon Forge Riverwalk.

If you didn’t get your fill at Dollywood, don’t forget The Island for rides, food, and shopping.

Plenty to do for the day or several days, you decide.

Discover the Best Free Camping Across the USA

To be honest with you,  we hate paying for camping . There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy).

You should give it a try!

As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours.  Every time you pay federal taxes, you’re contributing to these lands.

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We’ll send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state).  Access the list by submitting your email below:

• Lodging Discounts
• Pigeon Forge

Tennessee Mountain Home: Take a Look Inside Dolly Parton’s Childhood Home

We often hear the question, “Where is Dolly Parton from?” and while the short and most common answer is Sevierville, we’re here to explain it more in detail! Long before she was a country music legend, Dolly Parton was growing up in a small, 1-bedroom log cabin in Sevierville, TN. She and her family members didn’t have much, but they didn’t need much other than each other. Dolly’s Smoky Mountain home holds a special place in her heart, so special that she has a replica of the home in Dollywood for visitors to see! Visit My Smokies has all the info on Dolly Parton’s childhood home and how you can take a look inside:

Dolly Parton’s Childhood Home

Dolly Parton’s childhood home may not be quite what you’d expect. Dolly was raised in a small 2-room home with no electricity and no running water (unless you were willing to run and get it). She said they used to catch fireflies in mason jars and keep them in their rooms for light. Despite not having much, as they were growing up, none of them ever thought of themselves as “poor.” Dolly said they were rich in things that money couldn’t buy, like love, kindness and understanding.

The cabin has a kitchen with a table that seats 6, a small pantry and stove, a washing basin between the kitchen and bedroom, and a two-thirds wall separating the kitchen from the only bedroom in the house. Her childhood home still stands today on Locust Ridge Rd. in Sevierville, TN. It wasn’t much of a house, but it was a home to Dolly and her family. The country singer even wrote a song about her home and growing up called “My Tennessee Mountain Home.” The song wasn’t the only way Dolly chose to commemorate her childhood home. You can take a look inside her childhood home when you visit Dollywood !

Visit Her Tennessee Mountain Home at Dollywood

Outside of the replica for the Dolly Parton home, you’ll find a sign that reads, “These mountains and my childhood home have a special place in my heart. They inspire my music and my life. I hope being here does the same for you! Dolly.”

Coming Soon to Dollywood: The Dolly Parton Experience

If you loved the chance to see the replica of Dolly Parton’s childhood home, then you’ll love this brand new addition coming to Dollywood in the 2024 season: The Dolly Parton Experience ! This experience will feature a number of interactive elements that will make guests feel as if they were right alongside Dolly as she grew up and journeyed from Locust Ridge to stages around the world. The exhibits will highlight her signature Dolly Parton style and span her iconic career, her biggest dreams, and the importance of family. You won’t want to miss this new experience at Dollywood in spring of 2024!

Would you love to plan your trip to Dollywood to see inside the replica of Dolly Parton’s childhood home and get a feel for how the country star grew up, or get a head start on planning your visit for to explore the Dolly Parton Experience? Get all the info you need to know about Dollywood ticket prices , then start planning your visit!

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Take a look inside Dolly Parton's childhood home, a two-room log cabin where she lived with her 11 siblings

A replica of Dolly Parton's childhood home at Dollywood.Talia Lakritz/Insider

• Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park features a replica of her childhood home.
• The original two-room log cabin in Sevierville, Tennessee, had no electricity or running water.

Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, features a replica of her humble childhood home.

"These mountains and my childhood home have a special place in my heart," reads a sign outside the cabin. "They inspire my music and my life. I hope being here does the same for you! Dolly."

These mountains and my childhood home have a special place in my heart, reads a sign outside the cabin. They inspire my music and my life. I hope being here does the same for you! Dolly.

Parton grew up in the two-room log cabin with her parents and 11 siblings.

The log cabin had no electricity or running water, but Parton remembered her years there fondly in her 1973 song "My Tennessee Mountain Home."

"In my Tennessee mountain home / Life is as peaceful as a baby's sigh / In my Tennessee mountain home / The crickets sing in the fields nearby," she sings.

The log cabin had no electricity or running water, but Parton remembered her years there fondly in her 1973 song My Tennessee Mountain Home.

In my Tennessee mountain home / Life is as peaceful as a baby's sigh / In my Tennessee mountain home / The crickets sing in the fields nearby, she sings.

Parton's brother Bobby built the Dollywood replica, and her mother Avie Lee designed and furnished the interior.

A time capsule at the Dollywood DreamMore Resort contains a piece of wood from the front porch of the original home, which functioned as Parton's first stage.

The dining area featured a small table and a wood burning stove.

The walls of the log cabin were covered with newspaper for insulation.

Religious art adorned the walls.

Parton has often spoken about how her Christian faith has shaped her life and music, telling People magazine in 2019 that "I've always felt like my music was more my ministry than a job."

Dollywood pays tribute to her Christian upbringing with attractions like gospel music performances and a chapel that holds worship services every Sunday.

Parton has often spoken about how her Christian faith has shaped her life and music, telling People magazine in 2019 that I've always felt like my music was more my ministry than a job.

In the kitchen and pantry, many of the items came from the original Parton family home.

The kitchen featured dishes, cast iron pans, and a butter churner.

The log cabin only had one bedroom.

Photos of Parton's parents, Avie Lee Owens and Robert Lee Parton, hung above the bed.

Parton has come a long way since her humble beginnings, but has stayed true to her Tennessee mountain home roots.

Dollywood is located just under six miles from Sevierville, Tennessee, where Parton grew up.

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How Dolly Parton's Childhood Home Became the Dollywood Empire

"Is this the real house?" asks a woman as she shuffles through the cabin, eating barbecue off a red plastic plate.

"I don't know," says her friend. "Is this the whole thing?"

I'm standing in the replica of Dolly Parton's childhood home at the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Visitors enter the cabin on the left, from a front porch hung with old oil lanterns, and exit to the right. A hallway several feet wide runs along the cabin's interior, and a wooden fence and glass wall separate visitors from the two-room home: you are both in the cabin and not in the cabin, surveying a recreation of the space where Dolly lived with her parents and eleven siblings. Several other people walk through the cabin, marveling at its size. One man laughs out loud. " How many people lived here?" he asks no one in particular.

Lack and excess coexist uncomfortably at Dollywood , where the cabin represents one kind of "Tennessee Mountain Home," and the ever-expanding Dollywood brand another. Dollywood strives to give its visitors a sense that they are at home in the Smoky Mountains, but being at home is about luxury. Those who flock to Dollywood, Dollywood Splash Country, and Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction can stay at Dollywood Cabins, which come complete with bedside jacuzzis in the master suites, "picnic pavilions," swimming pools, and home theaters. And in late July, the latest addition to the Dollywood empire opened its doors: the DreamMore Resort. Like Dollywood Cabins, the resort is geared towards families—visitors are encouraged to "Make the Most of Family Time"—but it markets itself as opulent and grand.

The replica cabin, by contrast, strives to give visitors a glimpse into Dolly's impoverished childhood, which underpins the park's nostalgic vision of Tennessee. A sign proclaims it "the original cabin," with its "original family treasures" that "still stands at its location on Locust Ridge." This year— all year—Dollywood celebrates its 30th anniversary, an opportunity for this world of Appalachian replicas to insist that it is "original." This word is emblazoned on anniversary signage throughout the park. The emphasis on originality relates to Dollywood's insistence on its all-American, down-home authenticity, and the fact that the cabin contains "original family treasures" owned by the Parton family makes it difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake.

But Dollywood is absolutely geographically specific, and it is successful. Divided into ten zones—Country Fair, Showstreet, the Village, Craftsmen's Valley, Rivertown Junction, Wilderness Pass, Timber Canyon, Owen's Farm, Jukebox Junction, and Adventures in Imagination—it is a consumable, artificial version of the mountains that lie just beyond its walls. Some theme parks create fantastical worlds, promising the possibility of escape from the everyday. But Dollywood encourages visitors to confuse the actual Great Smoky Mountains with those represented in it.

The cabin stands close to the park's entrance, suggesting that you need to see it before moving on to other offerings. The kitchen walls are covered with floral wallpaper and old newspapers and hung with cast iron pans and enamel mixing bowls. The table is set with plates and aluminum coffee cups. A kettle sits on the stove, and the shelves are lined with earthenware jars, rusted tins, and even a container of Spam. On the floor are baskets filled with firewood and pumpkins, and by the stove are a broom and a butter churn. A washing basin stands between the kitchen and the bedroom, on top of which rests a container that has been turned on its side and labeled "LYE SOAP." The date of 19 January 1946, Dolly's birthday, is circled on a calendar for Ward's Cow-Feed and Pride Hog and Pig Feed in Nashville.

A two-thirds wall separates the kitchen from the bedroom. Lace curtains hang in the bedroom window, and the couch has been pushed up against the bed, which is covered with a quilt that brings to mind Dolly's patchwork " Coat of Many Colors " that she immortalized in the 1971 song:

Every piece was small, And I didn't have a coat And it was way down in the fall Momma sewed the rags together Sewin' every piece with love…

Two necklaces hang on the wall above the bed, as do several old photographs of her parents. When I sit down on the floor in the hallway, I see that there are wooden toys stored under the bed.

As people pass through the cabin, the refrain is always the same: Look at this; look at that. Look at that jar of buttons. Look at that old stove. Look at that cool sewing table. Look at those plates. But no one stays for long.

Outside, a sign identifies the house as the "Tennessee Mountain Home" mythologized in Dolly's 1973 song: "These mountains and my childhood home have a special place in my heart. They inspire my music and my life. I hope being here does the same for you! Dolly ." This pink signature, which reappears on other signs throughout the park, authenticates and approves this replica as a potential source of inspiration for "you," a key term at Dollywood that draws the visitor into Dolly's story. Another sign by the front porch explains the cabin's genesis:

Perhaps surprisingly, the replica of Dolly's childhood cabin does not fit in its environment. Although Dollywood is certainly about Dolly Parton, the cabin is jarringly personal in this largely generic landscape. The park's gristmills, barns, and country stores are also replicas, but these buildings are types. A barn in Dollywood represents all barns in Tennessee, not a particular barn. The replica cabin is hers—and her family's—and this makes it strange.

The cabin is also odd because it is a copy of a real place that is just a few miles away, tucked up in the mountains. Like Dorothy's house in The Wizard of Oz , it is both an actual home and a symbol of home, relocated where it does not belong.

Most of the buildings at Dollywood contain things that you can buy, from souvenir coffee mugs, magnets, and key chains to old-timey objects like harmonicas, pony sticks, and bags of gum balls. The wares of the working blacksmiths, potters, belt makers, glass blowers, and slate painters in Craftsmen's Valley are all for sale. But there is nothing to buy in the Tennessee Mountain Home. This is, in part, why visitors shuffle though the house so quickly: they don't know what to do if they can't take anything with them.

The cabin's lost and remembered scene of childhood isn't about consumption; it is about nostalgia. Although we tend to think of nostalgia as a desire for the past, the word comes from the Greek nostos , which means a longing for home. At Dollywood, the home is the origin point for how you understand yourself and your life, and so it proliferates.

The next home is in the Chasing Rainbows Museum. Inside the museum, I walk through several rooms of photographs depicting Dolly with other celebrities and then, eventually, I find myself in an attic.

The museum gathers together costumes, video recordings, awards, posters, and albums from her career, but before I can access this, I must return to the domestic sphere. This jumbled storage space is filled with furniture, clothes, paintings, records, film posters, suitcases, mannequins, lamps turned on their sides, and a gramophone: all symbols of Dolly's career success.

And Dolly herself is there as a ghostly hologram to explain what this attic means. She speaks of the importance of "the memories of all the people who helped my dreams come true." She also compares the museum to "a special drawer" that we all might have: a space that is filled with the detritus of our own memories—ticket stubs, receipts, and what-not. And so the attic becomes a figure for memory itself.

In the replica cabin, every family object had its place. But the attic is—like all attics—a disorganized mass of things: a space arranged to look unarranged. Dolly's stories and songs about her childhood emphasize her lack of material possessions, but the attic in the Chasing Rainbows Museum moves away from this, presenting a successful adult version of Dolly, defined by meaningful objects and memories.

Another wall panel describes the beginning of her career:

I would sit up on top of a woodpile playing and singing at the top of my lungs. Sometimes I would take a tobacco stake and stick it in the cracks between the boards on the front porch. A tin can on top of the tobacco stake turned it into a microphone, and the porch became my stage. I used to perform for anybody or anything I could get to watch.

As she tells a story of a tornado that spared the house after the family prayed, her voice fills the space like the sound of a benevolent god.

Theme parks often present idealized worlds. At Dollywood, this ideal is your childhood home to which you long to return. But you also know that a return is impossible. As I exit the museum, I pass the last of Dolly's homes: her tour bus, or "Home-on-Wheels." Dolly's friends Don and Ann Warden designed the interior of this $750,000, forty-five-foot long bus, and he drove it for fifteen years. It made more than 100 non-stop trips from Nashville to Los Angeles, traveling 600,000 miles over the years. Though it is now permanently parked in front of the museum, it represents transience and travel: life on the road, not a grounded Tennessee Mountain Home.

This is the final magical transformation that Dollywood performs: the change of the home not just into memory, like the replica cabin and the attic, but into a moveable and grown-up form. The tour bus represents the achievement of a career that, the park insists, was assured by providence, from when Dolly was a little girl with her tobacco stake microphone in her hand. You should "chase your dreams," she says, but there is a dark side to this. You must also leave your home behind, and success means the loss of it. This home can be copied and remembered, and maybe even revisited, but it gradually recedes from view, miles beyond the theme park, up in the mountains, invisible.

· Dolly Parton coverage [Curbed] · Curbed Features archive [Curbed]

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I visited Dolly Parton's hometown in Tennessee. Here are 16 photos that show her humble beginnings.

• I visited Dolly Parton's hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, to see where she got her start.
• Vibrant murals, boutiques, and a statue of Parton make Sevierville worth a visit.
• The singer and philanthropist turns 77 on January 19.

On a trip to Tennessee in June, I visited Dolly Parton's hometown of Sevierville.

Parton grew up in a log cabin in Locust Ridge, located southeast of Sevierville . She shared the two-room home with her parents and 11 siblings. While the original cabin is fenced off and closed to visitors, fans can step into a replica of her childhood home at Dollywood.

My first stop was Sevier County High School, Parton's alma mater.

Parton graduated from Sevier County High School in 1964.

The school was closed when I visited, but a local told me that Parton's old marching-band uniform is on display inside.

Parton has remained connected to her old high school through the years, funding scholarships and delivering virtual commencement speeches . I visited during the summer, when the school was closed.

Next, I visited LeConte Medical Center, where Parton has funded the Dolly Parton Center for Women's Services and the Dolly Parton Birthing Unit.

LeConte Medical Center opened in 2010 with the help of Parton's philanthropy and fundraising.

As of 2020, the Dolly Parton Birthing Unit has delivered over 10,000 babies.

"I am so proud to call LeConte Medical Center the hometown hospital for my people," Parton said at a 2020 event marking the hospital's 10th anniversary, CBS affiliate WVLT in Knoxville  reported. 

This brick building in downtown Sevierville once housed The Pines Theater, where Dolly Parton played her first paid gig.

The real Pines Theater closed in 1957, but it is currently being remodeled into an entertainment venue, according to ABC affiliate WATE .

Dollywood's re-creation of The Pines Theater , located in Jukebox Junction, can hold 1,000 audience members and hosts musical performances.

One of the main attractions in Sevierville is a bronze statue of Parton outside the Sevier County Courthouse.

The statue was dedicated by the people of Sevier County in 1987, a year after Dollywood opened.

Sculpted by Jim Gray, the statue depicts Parton perched on a rock, smiling and strumming a guitar.

"I've had the good fortune of getting to travel all over this world. I've had all kinds of wonderful awards. But I think probably one of the things I'm proudest of in my whole career, my whole life, really, is this statue of me in the courthouse yard in Sevierville," Parton said in a 2011 video .

There's even a butterfly on the neck of Parton's guitar.

Parton, who wrote a song called "Love is Like a Butterfly," often features butterflies in her outfits and staging.

The statue is part of the Tennessee Music Pathways series highlighting locations across the state that are part of its music history.

A project of Tennessee's Department of Tourist Development , the series includes birthplaces, grave sites, record shops, music venues, and historic markers for artists across genres with connections to Tennessee.

A boutique named Jolene's On Bruce Street sits around the corner from the statue.

The store's name is a nod to Parton's hit song "Jolene."

Jolene's sells a variety of Dolly Parton-themed apparel and souvenirs.

The shop sold smaller items like keychains and stickers, as well as T-shirts and denim jackets.

Across the street, a store called Smoky Mountain Wildflower references another Parton song.

Parton wrote "Wildflowers" and released it with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt on their joint 1987 album "Trio," which won a Grammy award .

A mural shows a young Parton ordering a hamburger at Red's Cafe, which used to be located on Bruce Street in downtown Sevierville.

Paul "Red" Clevenger opened Red's Cafe in 1946 , the same year Parton was born. When she was six years old, Parton ate her first hamburger there.

While the original eatery is no longer open, Red's Drive-In at Dollywood recreates the magic of one of Parton's favorite hometown spots.

Another mural inspired by Parton, "Wings of Wander," provided a fun photo-op.

Created by Pinkie Mistry, the mural measures 16 feet high and 20 feet wide . As touristy as I felt, I couldn't resist the chance to pose for a picture there.

Located just 6 miles from Dollywood and all of its attractions, Sevierville is worth a stop.

With its landmarks, murals, and cute themed boutiques, Downtown Sevierville is a great place to spend an afternoon and get a glimpse into Parton's humble beginnings.

• Main content

Dolly Parton's astonishing childhood home - and why she made a replica

Dolly now lives in nashville with her husband carl dean.

Dolly Parton 's Nashville home is fit for a country queen, but the star's humble beginnings and two-room childhood home just might surprise you!

SEE:  Dolly Parton is almost unrecognisable in adorable childhood photo

She grew up in a log cabin in Sevierville, Tennessee which comprised solely of a kitchen room and one bedroom and  it is reported that the cabin didn't have any electricity or running water and the property on Locust Ridge Rd is still standing today. But that's not the only place you can see Dolly's twee childhood house because a replica of it has been made for a very good reason.  

WATCH: Dolly Parton dresses up for her husband's birthday - and wow

When designing her theme park, Dollywood, the star decided she wanted to reconstruct her family home for people to view. She has even included trinkets taken from her home and the attention to detail is seriously impressive.

MORE:  Dolly Parton reveals exciting new role in Netflix series - and fans will be thrilled

MORE:  Dolly Parton's Nashville home with husband Carl is not what you'd expect

The country star has even joked that she's spent millions making the place look like $50!

Dolly has made a replica of her childhood cabin

This humble abode had a profound effect on Dolly, and she even sang a song about her childhood home, it is called My Tennessee Mountain Home .

Since 1999, Dolly has lived in the same home in Brentwood, Nashville, and she purchased it for $400,000 (£283,100). She shares it with her husband , Carl Dean, and according to the Kiwi Report , it features its own tennis court, swimming pool, chapel and a farm.

Dollywood has cost millions to build

It is a world away from her childhood home, but the star is keen to keep the feel of the place traditional with lots of authentic wood and rustic furnishings.

The star now lives in Nashville

Dolly has her very own music room, complete with a black piano. It's decorated with cream walls and patterned green carpet, as well as ruched floral blinds.

She also has enough room for all her amazing awards and one day she showed off a room filled with accolades, complete with a large painting honouring her achievement of selling 100 million records worldwide.

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Dollywood’s Roots in the Great Smokies

Follow your dreams..

The contrast between Dolly Parton’s childhood home and her sprawling Dollywood complex is a reminder that the biggest thrills are when we take large leaps to follow our dreams, no matter how long the road. Amid the nightly summer fireworks, flume boats that go 50 miles per hour and screams from thrill-seekers on rollercoasters, Dollywood ( www.dollywood.com ), which has become the largest ticketed attraction in Tennessee, lies less than 10 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

But there’s an oasis of quiet near the Dollywood park entrance. It’s a replica of co-founder Dolly Parton’s rustic childhood two-room home where she and her 11 brothers and sisters were raised. Her original home is still up on Locust Ridge, a handful of miles from the park but a reality away from the opulence of Dollywood. To get there, you have to drive narrow gravel roads that hug hillsides and pass small fields of corn and tobacco and abandoned log houses tangled in wooded forests.

Great Smokies in Dolly Parton’s DNA

When Parton left Sevierville, Tenn. , in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, she was fresh out of high school and bent on making it as a country singer in Nashville. Despite her incredible success in the last 50 years, she never forgot her hometown. Today, Dollywood is the largest provider of jobs in Sevier County. And she’s also never forgotten the Great Smoky mountains.

“The Smokies are part of my DNA,” Parton said when she became an ambassador for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2009, the year the park turned 75.

Born in 1946, Parton grew up in a household of 12 children where resources were stretched thin. Despite growing up poor, Parton’s mom gave her a guitar when she was young. By age 10 she was performing professionally. By the time she was 25, her song “Joshua” made it to No. 1 country hit list in 1971, followed by a string of other hits like “Jolene,” “I will always love you” and “Here you come again.”

From Hollywood to Dollywood

It was only a matter of time until Parton hit the silver screen. In 1980 she starred in the comedy film 9 to 5 along side of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. In 1989, she acted in Steel Magnolias , joining a star-studded cast that included Daryl Hannah, Julia Roberts, Sally Field. Shirley MacLaine and Tom Skerritt.

During her time in Hollywood, however, Parton decided to bring a slice of entertainment back to her hometown in Tennessee. In 1986, she partnered with the Herschend family to redevelop a theme park called Silver Dollar City. Visitors have traveled to experience Dollywood ever since.

For Parton, returning to where she grew up has meant something more than just creating a tourist attraction.

In a special edition magazine for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th anniversary, Parton penned a special message, celebrating the place and stunning landscape that have made her what she is today.

“The Smoky Mountains have inspired me and my music since I was a little girl,” she wrote. “They touch my soul and lift my spirits. Let’s celebrate America’s most popular national park, but most especially, join me in making sure its magnificent beauty thrives for generations to come.”

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Dolly Parton's Childhood Home Is a Symbol of Humility and Inspiration

N estled in the serene landscapes of Locust Ridge, Tenn., stands a modest structure that has captured the hearts and imaginations of many: Dolly Parton 's childhood home. This simple one-room cabin, more than just an architectural entity, is a symbol of the humble beginnings from which one of country music's most beloved icons emerged.

Born into a life of poverty on Jan. 19, 1946, Dolly grew up in conditions far removed from the glitter and glamour she would later be associated with. Yet, it was within the walls of this unassuming home where the seeds of her extraordinary talent and boundless creativity were sown.

What did Dolly Parton's childhood home look like?

Situated in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Dolly's childhood home was actually a tiny one-room cabin where she and her 10 siblings grew up. The family's living conditions were a testament to their financial struggles, with Dolly herself describing them as "dirt poor," per Hooked On Houses .

The interior of the cabin was furnished minimally, reflecting the family's economic situation. Notably, there was only one bed to accommodate all 11 children, showcasing the cramped living conditions they endured.

The interior of the cabin was as humble as its exterior, marked by its simplicity and the ingenuity of the Parton family in making the most of their limited resources. The walls were covered with newspaper and magazine clippings, serving both as insulation and decoration, a testament to the family's resourcefulness in the face of financial hardship. The furnishings were sparse, with a single bed for the children and basic kitchen facilities that underscored the family's simple lifestyle.

Dolly Parton built a replica of her childhood home at Dollywood.

Constructed by Dolly's brother Bobby, the replica of Dolly's at Dollywood is built with an attention to detail that mirrors the original two-room log cabin in Sevierville where Dolly grew up. It was a collaborative family effort, with the interior lovingly reproduced by her mother, Avie Lee Parton. This personal touch adds a layer of authenticity, which makes the exhibit not just a display but a bridge to Dolly's past.

Inside, visitors will find replicas of the simple furnishings that the family used, including the bed shared by several siblings and the kitchen table where they gathered for meals. The walls, adorned with newspaper clippings and magazine pages, replicate the original decor and serve as a reminder of the family's resourceful spirit in the face of poverty.

The replica of Dolly's childhood home not only honors her roots but also embodies the essence of her character — resilience, creativity, and a deep connection to her family and heritage. The replica of Dolly's childhood home at Dollywood provides a tangible link to her origins, offering fans and visitors alike a unique glimpse into the early life of a star who rose from poverty to international acclaim.

Inside Dolly Parton's home – a tranquil Tennessee retreat for a country icon

The surprisingly understated estate is a trove of warming neutrals and memorabilia that celebrates the singer's success

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Country music singer Dolly Parton is synonymous with glamor – exhibited through her elaborate outfits and instantly-associable feminine style. However, while Dolly is not afraid to experiment with abundant glitz on stage, her interior design decisions are notably more understated. 

Dolly, best known for her songs Jolene , 9 to 5 , and Islands in the Stream , lives on a sprawling estate in Brentwood with her husband, Carl Dean, and their French Bulldog named Billy The Kid. Brentwood, located in Williamson County, Tennessee, is a hive of country-music stars who reside in some of the world's best homes just south of Nashville. Other residents include Taylor Swift , Sheryl Crow, and Keith Urban. 

For much of her 50-year career, Dolly kept much of her personal life private. However, during the coronavirus pandemic, she began to share glimpses of her home via social media. To this day, she offers insights behind some of her rooms – including her traditional white kitchen and neutral-hued music room. Here, we tour her most notable spaces. 

Dolly Parton's yellow entryway

A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton) A photo posted by on

There is a lot of pressure on your entryway to make the first impression your home deserves – and so – you would be forgiven for using colors such as light yellow with caution. However, Dolly Parton's entryway is an example of how a sunny hue such as this has the ability to brighten almost any space – and with the singer's approval, we can't imagine this tone will fall out of fashion anytime soon.

A retro wooden side dresser dressed with a clock and a vase of flowers complement the yellow walls that create a subtle contrast against the white doors and windows. In the footage, Dolly is shown at the bottom of a wooden staircase – next to a large candle lantern that likely makes a statement when the sun sets over Brentwood.  

Dolly's white kitchen

Though (it appears as though) this kitchen is a set (and likely separate from her home), it still showcases some Dolly-approved decorating quirks – complete with white cabinetry and marble countertops surrounded by contemporary subway tiles.

While much of Dolly's kitchen ideas draw from one color scheme, the singer has introduced pockets of her personality with pink accessories. Stand-out pieces include her blushing breadbox, gingham towels, and flower arrangement that sits by the window.

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A beige-toned living space 

Decorating with beige is one of the safest but most stylish ways to elevate any kind of space, and it would seem Dolly Parton agrees. One of her living spaces showcases a cocooning beige palette paired with gold accents accentuating her paint perfectly. Next to her gold lamp, Dolly has placed a glass candle and a gold butterfly – the latter standing as a nod to what is famously her favorite creature. 

In her autobiography, Dolly shared that she has loved butterflies since she was a young child. 'I used to get lost in the woods, chasing them. I was not afraid of them because they were so gentle,' she says. 'I knew they weren’t going to bite me or sting me. They were beautiful and colorful, and they were doing something, being productive and being harmless.'

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics | $25.00 on Amazon

The aforementioned autobiography is a New York Times bestseller, described as a landmark celebration of her extraordinary life and career as a music legend.

Dolly's music room 

This music room continues to uphold Dolly's traditional decorating ideas – from its patterned carpet to the floral printed curtains that hang above the white blinds. 

Sitting on the table next to her piano, Dolly has a collection of photo frames illuminated by a large lamp on the wooden table. Elsewhere in her home, the singer pays tribute to her career through an expansive photo that fills an entire wall (below). Underneath the statement frame, she has a collection of awards – resting on a white and beige bench. 

In the wallpapered room, Dolly stands near a towering cacti that grows on the wooden wall beside her achievements. 

The patterned reading nook

Interrupting Dolly's traditional, neutral scheme, this corner of her home breaks from the ordinary. Sitting in what is (likely) a reading nook in one of her living spaces, Dolly is pictured on a rattan chair underneath her window. She is surrounded by a lively wallpaper featuring palm motifs that complement the turquoise parrot cushion on the chair. 

These unexpected wallpaper ideas contrast the rest of her home while exhibiting Dolly's playful side that feeds into clothing, music, and, now, her interior design style. 

Scent Beauty by Dolly Parton – $39.99 on Amazon

This playful, floral scent has vibrant fragrance notes that 'float like a butterfly in a garden'. The bottle pays tribute to Dolly's favorite animal, as explored above.

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph , following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.

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Dolly's Childhood Home

Hello, Dolly! Oregon and Dolly Parton pair up on effort to boost free books for babies, toddlers and preschoolers

• Updated: May. 09, 2024, 11:04 a.m. |
• Published: May. 08, 2024, 3:37 p.m.

Dolly Parton's "Imagination Library" program provides every child who signs up a free book each month for the first five years of his or her life. The program is expanding in Oregon. (Courtesy | The Dollywood Foundation, photo by Shawn Miller) Shawn Miller

• Julia Silverman | The Oregonian/OregonLive

In a deeply divided America, there are precious few things that nearly everyone can agree upon, except, perhaps, the one and only Dolly Parton, queen of country music and champion of seemingly every good cause under the sun, from environmental conservation to public health to childhood literacy.

That last one resonated in Oregon on Wednesday when Parton made a pre-taped appearance with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek to formally announce that the Dollywood Foundation’s “Imagination Library” program will double its presence statewide by 2027.

Parents can opt into the program, which sends one free book per month to children from birth to age 5 and is already available in dozens of Oregon communities, including in Portland, West Linn and Wilsonville.

Lawmakers earmarked $1.7 million in the 2024 legislative session to help take Parton’s Imagination Library program statewide. Kotek said work will continue over “the next few months” to scale up the program.

About 54,000 children are already registered for the program and the state’s goal is to nearly double that amount. That would mean about 65% of children younger than 6 in the state would be enrolled.

Interested families can check here to see if the program is already available in their area.

— Julia Silverman, [email protected] .

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Dolly Parton shares her vision for the future of Dollywood, aka her 'Tennessee mountain home'

"Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."

This is just one of the hundreds of "Dollyisms" spoken by the Backwoods Barbie herself, Dolly Parton.

Parton certainly has made quite a life for herself. She's one of the best-selling female music artists of all time, with 10 Grammy awards, two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a plaque on Nashville's StarWalk. Additionally, she's earned inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, to name a few.

However, the country music legend has used her talents — which extend far beyond her abilities as a singer and songwriter — to create a life that is meaningful, joyful and sometimes downright surprising.

Take Dollywood , her theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for example. In 1986, Parton collaborated with Silver Dollar City theme park owner Herschend Family Entertainment to take over the theme park and rename it "Dollywood." Parton was raised in Sevierville, Tennessee, not far from the park's location.

Why get involved with a theme park? Because no matter how much time she spent away from home, Parton has always felt the pull of her Smoky Mountain roots.

Her hope was that lending her name and likeness to Dollywood would bolster the local economy, provide jobs for nearby residents and create a place "where the culture and people of the Smoky Mountains would be celebrated and enjoyed by everyone," according to Parton's website .

TPG recently sat down with Parton to learn more about her plans for Dollywood's future and why the park is so important to her.

Dollywood's multimillion-dollar expansion

Now in its 38th season, Dollywood is the largest provider of jobs in Sevier County and draws in more than 3 million guests every year. Dollywood's consistent growth has led to the addition of many attractions over the years, along with Dollywood's Splash Country water park and Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa. However, Parton — Dollywood's "dreamer-in-chief" — has even bigger dreams for her namesake park.

In 2021, Parton announced a decadelong, $500 million investment in Dollywood, beginning with the opening of the family-friendly Big Bear Mountain roller coaster in May of 2023 and the 302-room Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort, scheduled to open in the fall of 2023.

Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort

At the moment, Parton is particularly excited about the opening of Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort, comparing it to a "high-class wilderness lodge." The resort, like all of Dollywood, will embody Parton's love of the Smokies.

"I'm a mountain girl, so if I'm gonna have a park, it needs to have that touch," Parton said.

Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort will bring the outdoors in with high vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, lantern-inspired windows and a large stone fireplace in the 4,000-square-foot, four-story atrium. Also, many rooms will feature balconies from which guests can take in the splendor of the Smokies.

There are also themed suites, family rooms with bunk beds, indoor and outdoor pools, a fire pit, a screened-in porch and other communal areas to foster family togetherness and connection — an example of Parton's desire to make Dollywood a premier destination for families.

Parton's dream of building a family-friendly destination

Whether at one of Dollywood's resorts or inside the park, Parton wants families to feel like they are at home.

"Well, like they are at home if they were being totally catered to. We all wish we could have our own chef and someone to clean up our house all the time," Parton laughed.

Dollywood truly makes you feel cared for and cared about. Examples include the restaurant server who calls you "darlin'" throughout your meal, the employee (or host, as they are called at Dollywood) who gives you a route that helps you avoid any steep hills when you ask for directions and the friendly faces handing out complimentary s'mores kits at the fire pit near the hotel pool every night.

In fact, it's one of the things Parton is most proud of.

"I travel all over the world and talk to so many people who have come to Dollywood. The thing they talk about most is how nice the people are," Parton said. "I take great pride in that ... that's just who they really are; you can't train people to do that."

Parton is also proud of Dollywood's reputation as a clean, safe, fun destination for families, which is a big reason why the park's expansion is leaning into adding more family-friendly offerings. The newly opened Big Bear Mountain roller coaster in the Wildwood Grove area of the park is a perfect example of that.

The coaster was designed so that everyone in the family could ride together and have a good time.

"We wanted to build a coaster that catered more to families and young kids, as well," Parton said. "Kids love the suspense and the sound effects of the bear growling, but parents who ride it get to be kids again, too," she added.

The future of Dollywood

Parton's plans for Dollywood include even more opportunities for kids to be kids and parents to be kids right along with them.

"I think that's what's good about this park," Parton shared. "Grown-ups can kind of be kid-like, too."

There are plans for more resorts and possibly even a campground. (Of course, for the ultimate Dolly Parton experience, you can stay in her retired tour bus .) Parton, a perpetual dreamer, is also coming up with ideas for new rides and themed areas of the park.

"One dream spawns another, and so on," Parton said. "We're always dreaming."

One thing is certain — Parton's dream to create a destination where families can enjoy the natural splendor of the Smoky Mountains is more than a fantasy. It's a reality that millions of families get to experience every year.

Her dreams just keep getting bigger, too.