Dolly Parton’s Love of the Great Smoky Mountains Helped Transform Her Hometown
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dolly Parton didn't just sing lovingly about her Tennessee mountain home. She spent her life elevating an often-overlooked region to showcase what long inspired her music and sparked a tourism boom that forever changed those living against the backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dolly Parton's love for her Tennessee mountain home contributed significantly to transforming the often-overlooked region into a thriving tourist destination. The late country music star, known worldwide, was deeply devoted to the Great Smoky Mountains, where she grew up and found inspiration for her music.
Parton's impact was profound to the rural residents of Sevier County, where she is considered the town's favorite daughter. Her death has been deeply personal to the community, with mourners flocking to a bronze statue of her in the center of Sevierville to pay their respects. The town, nestled in the Smoky Mountains just minutes from Dollywood, demonstrated their grief through tributes, flowers, and drawings left at the statue.
Upon her passing, Dollywood, the amusement park Parton opened in 1986, became Tennessee's most visited tourist attraction, contributing $1.8 billion annually to the local economy and employing the majority of the county. Parton's dedication to improving the lives of her fellow residents was evident through the establishment of The Dollywood Foundation in the early 1990s, which aimed to reduce the high school dropout rate in Sevier County.
The Buddy Program, a key initiative of the foundation, provided financial assistance to students who completed the program, helping them pursue higher education. As a result, the dropout rate in Sevier County dropped from around 30% to just 6%. Additionally, Parton's Imagination Library, an international program providing free books to children, has distributed over 330 million books to children across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.
Her generosity, particularly in response to the deadly 2016 wildfire that ravaged the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, further solidified her legacy. Parton directed her foundation to provide funds to displaced families and scholarships to students affected by the disaster, helping to rebuild and recover the region. Through her actions, Dolly Parton shattered stereotypes associated with Appalachian communities, encouraging people to appreciate the beauty and richness of the region.
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