Dolly Parton’s Tennessee Truck Stop Becomes Part of Her Final Legacy
In a final bid, two months before her passing, country music legend Dolly Parton would open a Tennessee travel center aimed at truckers and highway travelers. She was 80 years old when she passed away from a brief battle with cancer. She died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
The type of cancer she had was not publicly disclosed, but she canceled all her public performances beforehand. At the grand opening of Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee, found on Interstate 65, Parton made a public appearance.
It is believed to have been her last public appearance, where she opened it and helped to cut the ribbon with rhinestone scissors. When she opened it, she said that whether you were hauling loads, hauling family, or simply passing through, this place was made for you.
Why Did Dolly Parton Open a Truck Stop?
Parton said that the reason for this was that she had spent the bulk of her life on the road. More specifically, she spent it on the highway in a tour bus. Opening this travel center was a natural extension of all the touring she had done as a country music star, having spent decades on the road.
She wanted to create a more welcoming oasis for long-haul truckers, instead of banning them like the popular travel chain Buc-ee’s had done. She would go on to throw shade at Buc-ee’s, saying she couldn’t “leave it to Beaver!”
Parton created a dedicated area for big-rig parking with showers and a private lounge for truckers. There’s also live music acts with 52 musical and celebratory events planned. They have a dog park there called “Doggy Parton.” This was, in fact, the first of several planned locations.
Will There Be More Dolly Parton Truck Stops?
Especially with her passing two months after she opened the first one in Cornersville, Tennessee, about an hour south of Nashville, it begs the question, “Will there be more Dolly Parton truck stops?”
Even with Parton’s passing, they said they do plan to open more truck stops with her name in the future. There hasn’t been a public disclosure of what that might look like and where they may pop up, however.
Dolly Parton’s Legacy
Dolly Parton has widely been revered as the Queen of Country Music, selling over 100 million copies worldwide. She has also accumulated more than 1 billion online streams of her music. Some of her most popular hits include 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream, Jolene, Coat of Many Colors, and I Will Always Love You.
Besides her musical and entrepreneurial legacy, Parton also played in several comedy movies like Steel Magnolias, 9 to 5, Rhinestone, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Straight Talk, and Joyful Noise.
She’s also written books and memoirs, including Run, Rose, Run; Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business; Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You; and Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.
Dolly Parton has had over 55 Grammy nominations and 10 wins. This makes her the third most Grammy-nominated woman in history, putting her only behind Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. Beyoncé, who worked with Parton on the music album Cowboy Carter, praised Parton as a visionary “North Star” and was grateful for her artistry, generosity, and impact.
Taylor Swift, while she never collaborated with Parton, would praise her for her unique grace and grit. She continued by saying that a world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right.
What are Your Thoughts on Dolly Parton?
At Trucker Social, all we can do is mournfully say, “Rest in peace, Dolly. You enriched the lives of many with your music.” We would love to hear what you think about the latest news of Dolly Parton’s passing, and what you think of her truck stop with live music. Live music at truck stops is not common in the trucking industry, except at Jubitz Travel Center in Portland, Oregon, and Iowa 80 in Walcott, Iowa.
What are your thoughts on it? Will you be stopping at Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll have an active discussion.
