As we all know, Dolly Parton is more than just a country music legend.
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From her stake in Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to the dinner theaters in Tennessee and Missouri named after her, Parton has demonstrated considerable business savvy. She even has her own beauty and fragrance lines.
While her latest business move might surprise some, it actually fits perfectly with the growth of the "Jolene" singer's brand.
Dolly Parton Wants You to Fill 'Er Up
Scheduled to open next summer, Parton will be opening Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee. It's the beginning of a partnership with the Tennessean Travel Stop brand. Parton's team will rebrand its flagship location.
"I have spent the bulk of my life on the road, and more specifically on a bus," she said in a press release. "All the years spent visiting greasy spoon cafes, truck stops, and roadside pit stops have given me an understanding of what travelers desire on the road.
"Whether you are driving a truck, a bus, or a car, you want a place that feels like home and recharges you for the rest of your journey. I believe we will fill a void out there on the highways, all while bringing the heart and soul of Tennessee."
The stop will remain open while Parton's team renovates the store. The press release says travelers can expect modern amenities, curated dining, and regional retail with the comfort "travelers expect from both brands."
"Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stops will be more than a place to refuel — it's about recharging the spirit," said Danny Nozell, Parton's manager and the CEO of CTK Enterprises. "This project reflects Dolly's love for her home state and her commitment to supporting local business, community, and the travelers who keep America moving."
Plans to expand Dolly's travel stop concept are in motion. Meanwhile, details of this new retail concept will be kept under wraps until the official unveiling.
Dolly Is an "Early Bird"
The 79-year-old Parton can't seem to slow down. She attributes her industrious nature to her daily 3:00 a.m. wake-up time.
"Sometimes [I wake] earlier than that," she says. "That's when I do all my spiritual work, my prayers and my dreaming, my thinking, when all the energies of the world have kind of died down.
"I'm like my dad. And the older you get, the earlier you wake up, I've noticed that too. I don't want to miss nothing either. So I don't require a lot of sleep, I'm just one of those people that don't. It seems to work for a long time, and I don't see that changing. I'm an early bird."
All we have to say is, "Keep it up, Dolly!"
