Traffic picked up early in Cornersville as travelers headed to Dolly Parton’s Tennessean Travel Stop for its opening day along Interstate 65.
“Dolly is on her way,” Tennessean Travel Stop owner Gregory Sachs told media gathered at the new truck destination in Cornersville, saying Parton would cut the ribbon at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24.
The anticipation had been building all morning at the new roadside destination. Earlier promotional materials for the grand opening had stated that Parton would not attend the public festivities.
The 80-year-old country legend arrived wearing a blue-and-pink fringe ensemble with her signature stiletto heels. The “9 to 5” singer used the moment to make a playful quip about travel stop competitor Buc-ee’s.
“I’m sure some of you want to know why I wanted a truck stop,” Parton said. “Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers.”
Parton ended the brief ceremony with a ribbon cutting, marked by an explosion of multicolored confetti featuring her signature butterfly.
The message drew cheers from guests who had spent the afternoon exploring the property, sampling food from DLY BBQ and trying a “Cup of Ambition” coffee while waiting to see if Parton would appear.
Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, at Exit 22 off Interstate 65 in Cornersville, officially opened to the public on June 24.
The flagship location is a partnership between Parton, her longtime manager Danny Nozell and Gregory H. Sachs, owner of the Tennessean Travel Stop brand.
Inspired by Parton’s decades spent traveling the country by tour bus and her East Tennessee roots, the destination combines fuel services, food, shopping, live music and Tennessee-themed hospitality.
The appearance was one of only a handful of public events for Parton in 2026. In March, the East Tennessee star returned to Dollywood to launch the theme park’s 41st season after stepping back from several appearances while recovering from health issues and grieving the death of her husband, Carl Dean.
During that appearance, Parton told fans she had been rebuilding herself “spiritually, emotionally and physically.”
Parton, who has been open about dealing with kidney stones, said in May that she is working with doctors after “my immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past three years.”
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