Sevierville Invites Visitors to Walk in Dolly’s Footsteps

Dolly Parton, all of 10 years old at the time, performed on stage during amateur hour at the Cas Walker Jamboree at The Pines Theater in Sevierville, TN. She tore the house down (naturally) and told Walker, a Tennessee businessman, politician, and radio and TV personality, she wanted to work for him.

“The rest, as they say, is history,” says Luke Fall, communications assistant for the Sevierville CVB.

That history is gaining new life after Parton’s death on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80.

Among the worldwide tributes for the legendary singer and performer is a new walking tour debuting in October in Parton’s hometown of Sevierville, a cozy community in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Fall says Sevierville has a leg up on other destinations and venues honoring Parton because it can “tell a story no place else in the world can.”

No matter how large Parton’s fame or fan base grew, Sevierville remained close to her heart. Dollywood, her beloved theme park, is located in nearby Pigeon Forge.

“She cared deeply about this community and was proud to be from the hills of East Tennessee,” says Fall. “Because of her love for this place, we really felt that there was an opportunity to share the people, stories, and places that helped shape Dolly’s early life and career.”

In Dolly's Footsteps in October. Photo Credit: Sevierville CVB

The self-guided tour, entitled In Dolly’s Footsteps, is truly a walk down memory lane. A lot has changed in the 70 years since her big break at The Pines Theater, and many of the landmarks that made big impressions on young Parton no longer exist.

Sevierville has blended the tour with physical landmarks, including granite-and-bronze markers, with QR codes sending travelers to digital photos, videos, and stories.

Not only does the virtual element unlock content and footage from days gone by, it also provides the CVB an opportunity to assess the tour’s popularity. Tracking QR code scans, brochure pulls, increased visitor dwell time in downtown, and visitor feedback are among the metrics the Sevierville CVB will use.

Of course, Parton has been a big part of the attraction for Sevierville for decades. The Dolly Parton statue has stood for nearly 40 years and many Dolly-themed murals were added six years ago. Fall says the destination benefits from the celebrity status while remaining true to itself. “No one was as authentic as Dolly!” he exclaims.

Plans for the walking tour began in 2023. Sevier County Historian Carroll McMahan identified key locations and the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce worked closely with Dollywood to make sure Parton approved the sites.

Tour stops include:

• Red’s Café (Location circa 1964) - 119 Court Ave.
• Easy Way Five and Dime – 137 Bruce St.
• Dolly Statue – 125 Court Ave.
• Carr Dry Goods Co. – 140 Court Ave.
• Raymond’s Shoe Store – 110 Bruce St.
• Temple Milling Company – 106 W. Bruce St.
• Kilpatrick’s Drug Store – 159 Bruce St.
• Old Post Office – 163 Bruce St.
• The Pines Theater – 230 Court Ave.

Photo Credit: Sevierville CVB