Nashville is about to get its most personal new attraction. Dolly Parton's SongTeller Hotel and Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum open on 29 September in downtown Music City, just steps from the honky-tonks of Lower Broadway — and only weeks after Parton's death on 25 August at the age of 80.
The 245-room SongTeller Hotel has been billed as Parton's "love letter" to Nashville. Her songwriting career and unmistakable style run through the rooms, suites and shared spaces. Two venues put music front and centre: Jolene's, a top-floor bar showcasing up-and-coming Nashville singers and songwriters, and Parton's Live, dedicated to the city's writers'-round culture with sessions and showcases. If you've ever wanted to hear tomorrow's hits in a room designed by the woman who wrote "Jolene" and "9 to 5", this is it.
The real draw for fans is on the third floor. The 20,000-square-foot Life of Many Colors Museum traces Parton's arc from a cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains to global superstar, with more than 100 million records sold across a seven-decade career. The experience opens with a recreation of the tiny cabin where she grew up, then moves through interactive exhibits, personal stories and rarely seen pieces from her own collection.
The timing gives the opening extra weight. Parton wasn't just a singer — she was an actress, philanthropist and businesswoman whose Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge grew into one of Tennessee's biggest tourist draws. In a further tribute, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport have announced plans to rename the airport in her honour, with the governor calling her the state's "favourite daughter".
For travellers, this slots neatly into an already strong Nashville itinerary. The hotel's location puts you within walking distance of Broadway's live music bars, the Ryman Auditorium and the Cumberland River waterfront. Pair a museum visit with a night at Jolene's and you've got a full Dolly-themed day without leaving downtown — then, if you have a car, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge is around three hours east, on the edge of the Smokies.
Whether you're a lifelong fan or just curious about the woman behind the rhinestones, the SongTeller Hotel and museum now double as the definitive Parton pilgrimage — and a new way to experience Nashville's songwriting scene from the inside.