The Dollywood theme park in Tennessee is a tribute to the late singer and will go on without her.
Transcript
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Dollywood, theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, that pays homage to Dolly Parton, remained open this week following her death on Tuesday. Jacqui Sieber of WUOT and the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom asked visitors there what they’ll remember about the 80-year-old musician and philanthropist.
(SOUNDBITE OF THEME PARK RIDES RUNNING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Is that Dolly?
JACQUI SIEBER, BYLINE: The rides are open at Dollywood, and visitors venture into the gift shops. That includes Angela Henson (ph). She’s wearing pink shoes, pink pants and a pink shirt, all decorated with shiny rhinestones. It’s her way of remembering the country icon.
ANGELA HENSON: She loved to outshine and outsparkle everybody. And, you know, that’s why I wear what I wear a lot because I like to bring happiness to people that sees me sparkle.
SIEBER: Across the park are pink memorial signs to Dolly Parton. They feature her iconic quote, I will always love you. One of those signs is in front of a replica of her childhood home, a two-room cabin. Russ Matthewson (ph) sits on a bench nearby.
RUSS MATTHEWSON: I’ve always said that when something happened to Dolly, the flags would be flown half-staff because she has done so much for the state.
SIEBER: That includes her Imagination Library, a program that offers free books to children. Jeff Kramer (ph) says his daughter gets them.
JEFF KRAMER: How she knows Dolly is as the person who sends her a book every single month that she enjoys reading.
SIEBER: Dolly Parton’s charitable efforts and her advocacy inspired people, like 16-year-old Kylie Harris (ph), who is here for her birthday.
KYLIE HARRIS: She’s helped me to be more of an activist for groups of certain people, like the LGBTQ community. She’s an activist for them.
UNIDENTIFIED COMMENTATOR: In celebration of our dreamer in chief, we ask that you join us for a moment of silence.
SIEBER: At noon, the park holds a moment of silence for Dolly Parton. Visitors bow their heads, some wipe away tears. Then a piano version of “9 To 5” plays softly in the background.
(SOUNDBITE OF PIANO)
SIEBER: Lori Banther (ph) sits on a curb, tears in her eyes. She wears a Dolly hat and a Dollywood shirt.
LORI BANTHER: (Crying) She made a difference – not just with her money, but with the way she lived her life and the kindness that she showed everybody.
SIEBER: At Dollywood, where the goal is to entertain and lift people’s spirits, Dolly Parton will always be center stage.
For NPR News, I’m Jacqui Sieber in Sevierville, Tennessee.
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