Dolly Parton has made a rare public appearance in Tennessee since she pulled out of her Las Vegas residency due to health issues. The 80-year-old singer was in the rural town of Cornersville on Wednesday to open Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop, a new motorway service inspired by her time on the open road.
First Appearance Since Canceling Las Vegas Show
Last month, Dolly cancelled her "Dolly: Live in Las Vegas" show at The Colosseum Theatre at Caesars Palace. She said, "I've still got some healing to do, but I am on my way." She added: "Now, the bad news is that it's gonna take me a little while before I'm up to stage performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little swimmy-headed, as my grandma used to say."
On Wednesday, the 9 to 5 songstress was seen donning an embellished blue and pink dress and a pair of 5-inch stilettos as she walked on a stage for the ribbon-cutting. "How's everybody doing today, out in that hot, pouring sun? Anyway, I wanted to welcome all of you to say thank you for coming," she said and explained why she wanted to open a truck stop.
Playful Jab at Rivals
Taking the perfect opportunity to make a playful jab at her rivals, a truck stop chain known as Buc-ee's, Dolly shared: "I'm sure some of you are wondering why I wanted a truck stop. Well, I couldn't leave it to Beavers. We're very excited about our truck stop, the Tennessean Travel Stop, and now I just love the fact that I'm working with Greg [Sachs], who's such a wonderful guy." She added: "Of course, he has had this place for a while, and he said, 'Why don't we just go into business together?' I said, 'I think that's a great idea.'"
"Because I've spent my whole life travelling down the road. We're not trying to compete with anybody; we don't think we'll have to. We think we're going to have everything that you want or need, so thank you so much for coming, and we're going to cut the ribbon and make it official," she said.
Details of the Truck Stop
The truck stop includes fuelling stations for cars and trucks, a "Doggy Parton" dog park, a mural wall by Southern artist Britt Flood celebrating Dolly's roots and the sprawling landscape of Cornersville, a main stage for entertainment, as well as event space, lounge, and restaurants.
Dolly Parton's Legacy
The legendary singer has won 10 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. She is best known for her country hit songs, including Jolene, I Will Always Love You, and 9 to 5. A musical icon, she has a string of country crossover hits, including Coat of Many Colours, I Will Always Love You, 9 To 5, and Jolene.
