Dolly Parton has canceled her planned appearance at Dollywood on September 17, 2025. The news, confirmed by Dollywood’s official Instagram account, revealed that Parton, who was set to attend the unveiling of a new attraction scheduled for 2026, would no longer be at the park as previously planned.
The new attraction, which will coincide with the park’s 40th anniversary in 2026, will still be announced as scheduled. However, it will now proceed without the presence of Dolly Parton, the park’s Dreamer-in-Chief and its biggest advocate.
“UPDATE: 2026 RIDE ANNOUNCEMENT,” the official Dollywood Instagram story read. “Due to a change in schedule, Dolly, our Dreamer-in-Chief, will not be in attendance tomorrow (9/17) for the announcement of our 2026 attraction. The media event will still begin tomorrow at 11 a.m.”
Dolly Parton has been the face of the Great Smoky Mountain theme park since its inception in 1986, helping to transform the former Rebel Railroad and Silver Dollar City into a world-renowned family vacation destination. Over the years, she has expanded Dollywood’s offerings, including Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park, the DreamMore Resort & Spa, and the HeartSong Lodge & Resort. The park also hosts several seasonal events, including the I Will Always Love You Festival, the Harvest Festival, and the Smoky Mountain Christmas event.
The reason behind Parton’s sudden cancellation remains unclear. In March, the American music legend shared the heartbreaking news of the death of her longtime husband, Carl Thomas Dean. The famously private couple was married for nearly 60 years and lived together in Nashville, Tennessee.
Despite Dolly Parton’s absence, Dollywood’s 2026 attraction announcement is still set to take place on Wednesday. As of now, the Pigeon Forge theme park has not shared any further information on the specific reasons for the change in plans.
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