Dolly Parton Unveils a Surprising New Business Venture Even as Fans Express Concern for Her Health. ML
Dolly Parton fans have been understandably concerned about her health in 2025, but the country music icon is still moving ahead with a new business venture. As WKRN News 2 announced in November, Parton will lend her name and likeness to a truck stop chain, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stops, a rebranding and expansion of the longstanding Tennessean Travel Stop. The flagship travel stop originally opened in 1974.
“I have spent the bulk of my life on the road, and more specifically on a bus,” the singer explains on the chain’s website. “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.” The first travel stop under the Dolly Parton name launches summer 2026 at the original location in Cornersville, Tennessee.
Parton May Help Revitalize Local Economies
One potential benefit of this new business venture goes beyond Parton herself; the jobs the new travel stop chain will create may boost local economies. “When you think of Tennessee, you think of Dolly Parton,” state representative Todd Warner said in the WKRN news clip. “It will definitely help the economy.” The country singer’s manager, Danny Nozell, highlighted Parton’s love of supporting Tennessee communities in a statement on the chain’s website. “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.”
Infusing much-needed capital into small communities is nothing new for Parton, who breathed new life into Pigeon Forge when she opened Dollywood there 40 years ago. As Knox News reported, the beloved theme park now provides thousands of jobs during peak season and generates tourist revenue for surrounding hotels and other businesses.
The Singer Has Struggled With Her Health in 2025
Parton seems to be perpetually on the move. However, health issues led her to take a step back in 2025. In September, the singer took to Instagram and postponed shows in Las Vegas. “As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures,” she wrote in part. Sadly, Parton also missed her induction into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame in November due to health issues. Instead, she accepted the honor for Dollywood via a video message.
Earlier in the year, she announced a break from songwriting after the death of her husband. “I can’t do it right now, because I got so many other things, and I can’t afford the luxury of getting that emotional right now,” she told Khloe Kardashian on her podcast. Although she’s certainly slowed down, this new travel stop partnership shows that there is still plenty on the horizon for the beloved singer.
