{
  "id": 3670126,
  "title": "#SHOWBIZ: Fans flock to Dollywood to celebrate Dolly Parton's enduring Appalachian legacy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/showbiz-fans-flock-to-dollywood-to-celebrate-dolly-partons-enduring",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T04:30:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2026/08/1519770/showbiz-fans-flock-dollywood-celebrate-dolly-partons-enduring"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pigeon Forge, Tennessee has seen a surge of visitors to Dollywood, the theme park founded by country music icon Dolly Parton, as fans celebrate the singer's enduring legacy in Appalachian culture. Parton, who passed away at 80, co-owned and developed the park, which now draws four million visitors annually and employs over 4,000 people. The park serves as an economic lifeline for struggling Appalachian communities, generating about $2 billion in economic impact for the state of Tennessee each year. Dollywood offers a variety of attractions, including roller coasters, seasonal festivals, old-time displays of rural life, and an authentic replica of the log cabin where Parton grew up with her 11 siblings. Parton's dedication to promoting and preserving Appalachian culture through the park has been a source of pride for many, including Rebekah Donchatz, a 35-year-old mortgage processor from Asheville, North Carolina. Donchatz and her sister have been making a yearly pilgrimage to Dollywood since Parton's death, expressing admiration for the singer's commitment to her roots and her positive impact on the region.",
  "summary": "PIGEON FORGE: \"Years and years ago, my sister and I made a pact that when Dolly died we'd come to Dollywood immediately,\" Rebekah Donchatz said. \"We just needed to be here.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Dolly Parton’s parents and 11 siblings: All we know about Robert Lee and Avie Lee Parton",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/dolly-partons-parents-and-11-siblings-all-we-know-about-robert-lee",
        "published": "2026-08-26T10:03:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Dolly Parton’s philanthropy was based on ‘her belief in the goodness of people’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/dolly-partons-philanthropy-was-based-on-her-belief-in-the-goodness-of",
        "published": "2026-08-26T10:33:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Dolly Parton’s philanthropy was based on ‘her belief in the goodness of people’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/dolly-partons-philanthropy-was-based-on-her-belief-in-the-goodness-of-3493771",
        "published": "2026-08-26T10:53:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Why are Dolly Parton fans lashing out at Donald Trump?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/why-are-dolly-parton-fans-lashing-out-at-donald-trump",
        "published": "2026-08-26T12:02:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Carly Pearce recalls when Dolly Parton invited her to be an official member of the Grand Ole Opry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/carly-pearce-recalls-when-dolly-parton-invited-her-to-be-an-official",
        "published": "2026-08-26T12:54:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Irish Times",
        "title": "‘An incredible initiative’: Dolly Parton project gives books to thousands of Irish children",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/an-incredible-initiative-dolly-parton-project-gives-books-to",
        "published": "2026-08-26T13:12:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "WATCH: The power behind Dolly Parton's songwriting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/watch-the-power-behind-dolly-partons-songwriting",
        "published": "2026-08-26T15:54:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Martina McBride shares her favorite Dolly Parton memories",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/martina-mcbride-shares-her-favorite-dolly-parton-memories",
        "published": "2026-08-26T22:15:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}