Clash of the Titans in Tennessee: Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop Is Open

Dolly Parton’s answer to Buc-ee’s is open on I-65

It’s Ali vs Frazier. Yankees vs. Red Sox. It’s Godzilla vs Mothra. And now, it’s Tennessee vs. Texas.

Yes, there’s a brouhaha brewing on the interstates of Tennessee. Queen Dolly Parton stepped in to take on the current King of convenience stores, Buc-ee’s, for the hearts, minds and maybe the very souls of Tennessee travelers. And now the doors are open.

Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop officially opened June 24, 2026, at Exit 22 off I-65 in Cornersville. Dolly made a surprise appearance to cut the ribbon with her partners and kick off a week-long grand opening celebration that ran through July 3.

Sounds a lot like a Buc-ee’s, y’all. But instead of the Beaver, Dolly Parton is on the merch, the branding, the billboard and everything else. Is there a Dolly answer to Beaver Nuggets? Not that I’ve seen. But there is Cup of Ambition, Dolly’s new coffee brand made in partnership with Community Coffee, and slow-smoked Tennessee barbecue at DLY BBQ.

The stop has already caught the eye of the national travel press. Frommer’s picked Dolly Parton’s Tennessee as one of its Best Places to Go in 2027, and called out the travel stop by name: “Parton opened a bedazzled, darn fun rest stop— Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop—in Cornersville, Tennessee, that’s been attracting big crowds, and has live music many nights of the week.”

Dolly died Aug. 25, 2026, about two months after that ribbon cutting. We shared our memories of her in Dolly Rebecca Parton (1946-2026) Now “In the Arms of Jesus”. Her name is still on the sign in Cornersville, and the doors are still open around the clock.

Why would Dolly do this?

First of all, Buc-ee’s is making money hand over fist. And Dolly was a shrewd businesswoman from Sevier County where the ethos is: If you see somebody making money, copy their model and siphon off everything you can.

Look, this is a lot of Dolly’s model for Dollywood. She partnered with an existing property, lending her name and branding. She gave a long-standing business a jolt of investment and brand awareness that you just can’t buy.

“I have spent the bulk of my life on the road, and more specifically on a bus,” Dolly said when the partnership was announced. “All the years spent visiting greasy spoon cafes, truck stops, and roadside pit stops have given me an understanding of what traveler’s 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.”

And when the doors opened, she kept it simple: “Well, the doors are open and I could not be prouder. Whether you are hauling loads, hauling the family, or just passing through, we built this place for you. Good food, real rest, a little music, and people who are genuinely glad you stopped in…that’s what the road has always deserved, and that is what you will find here. Welcome home.”

I suspect they will be in the business of looking for places where Buc-ee’s hasn’t yet planted a flag. This could start a travel station arms race that would rival the United States versus the Soviet Union circa 1955-1990. That’s when “Rocky” ended the Cold War through the power of steroids and glistening.

Who is behind it and where is it?

The partnership is Dolly, her longtime manager Danny Nozell and Gregory H. Sachs, owner of the Tennessean Travel Stop. The Tennessean Travel Stop has been in its current location on I-65 in Cornersville for decades, south of Nashville and 22 miles from the Alabama State Line. The massive place – founded in 1974 – was kind of Buc-ee’s before Buc-ee’s. Now it’s Dolly’s, at Exit 22, 3686 Pulaski Highway.

So what’s there now? A full-service Southern restaurant and meat-and-three serving home-cooked favorites. DLY BBQ, with Tennessee barbecue smoked low and slow and served with homemade biscuits. Cup of Ambition, pouring Dolly’s coffee with fresh pastries. A fully stocked general store and exclusive merch. There’s also an upstairs bar and patio – but hopefully that’s for the passengers and not the drivers.

Live music is a big part of the deal. The stop features acoustic acts and live bands Wednesday through Sunday on a rotating lineup, and the stage leans on Tennessee talent. During grand opening week, they even rolled out “Dollyoke” – a night of grabbing the mic for Dolly’s hits and songs of the road.

And there are photo ops a Dolly fan won’t want to skip. There’s a custom tour bus installation inspired by the buses Dolly spent decades traveling in. There’s Butterfly Lullaby (Mountain Gospel), an original mural nearly 40 feet wide and over 13 feet tall by Southern artist Britt Flood, commissioned for the travel stop with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. There’s a community dog park, too, and a spot called Doggy Parton, which might be the best name anyone has ever given anything.

For the professional drivers, it’s open 24/7 with free truck parking (about 200 spots for trucks and RVs), private showers, laundry, a lounge and a trucker supply shop. There are 24 Tesla Superchargers for the EV crowd. Restaurant, bar and coffee hours vary, so check the official site before you plan a meal around it.

Again, this thing is massive and it’s perfectly located to be the flagship location. I-65 is heavily trafficked with people going to and from Nashville. The closest Buc-ee’s are over on I-40 in Crossville – about two and a half hours away – and in Athens, Alabama – which is about 45 minutes away. Buc-ee’s is set to get closer to Music City, with its first Middle Tennessee store scheduled to open Nov. 16, 2026, off I-24 in Murfreesboro. But that’s a different interstate. On I-65 south of Nashville, Dolly’s has the head start.

“The Tennessean has long been a ‘home away from home’ for truck drivers, travelers, and locals alike. Our roots in this community run deep – we’ve created jobs, built connection, and welcomed generations of people through our doors,” Gregory H. Sachs, Chairman/CEO of the Tennessean Travel Stop and Sachs Capital Group, said when the partnership was announced. “This new partnership allows us to carry that legacy forward in a way that celebrates everything special about Tennessee. Together with Dolly and her team, we’re reimagining what a travel stop can be – transforming it into a warm, inviting destination where everyone feels welcome to slow down, kick up their feet, and stay awhile.”

Is it just the one location?

For now. But it sounds like the folks behind Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stops are still ramping up to come for the king.

When the partnership was announced, the press release said the first rebranded location would serve “as both a proof of concept and flagship for future sites planned under the Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stops banner. Additional locations across Tennessee and beyond are set to be announced in 2026.”

As of this update, no second location has been named. The company says it is “working hard on plans for future locations in and around Tennessee, with plans to expand nationwide in the future.”

“Pairing the history this landmark location has with Dolly’s spirit establishes a high benchmark for our future locations,” Sachs said at the opening.

Did the marketing people lay it on a little thick in the press release?

You already know.

“Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stops will be more than a place to refuel – it’s about recharging the spirit,” said Danny Nozell, CEO of CTK Enterprises and long-time manager of Parton. “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.”

Where will future locations be?

Nothing has been announced yet. But I still expect I-40 in West Tennessee to be a prime location. There’s a lot of traffic that runs between Nashville and Memphis and Buc-ee’s hasn’t put down roots there yet. Its Fayette County store off I-40 near Gallaway isn’t expected to open until May 2027. So the window is open, but it’s closing. Also, any places with heavy interstate traffic where Buc-ee’s hasn’t yet located.

We speculated in 2025 that Asheville, N.C. might be a good spot with heavy traffic and an intersection of interstates. Buc-ee’s is working on opening a location in the state, but it’s a ways away. Virginia is also ripe for traffic stop plunder.

However, there’s another idea to consider. I was talking to a local developer a while back about an acquaintance who’d made an obscene amount of money in the car wash business. Who knew? And the developer was working with a competitor who was placing carwashes across the street from the first guy’s spots. When asked why, he said “Wherever he goes, I want to be there.”

Maybe Dolly’s people aren’t thinking about avoiding Buc-ee’s but making consumers choose. They could put locations in Georgia slightly closer to Atlanta than Warner Robins and Calhoun in an attempt to siphon off the outbound traffic.

The big question in my mind is still whether a Dolly’s stop will ever land in her home county. I’ve often joked about Buc-ee’s opening a second location across I-40 at exit 407 on the site of the former Smokies Stadium. What if the delay in the announcement about the future of that site is because Dolly’s people want to put a travel stop there? Is it possible? I don’t know, and nobody has said so, but it would be absolutely Epic. And they could partner with Dollywood, the Stampede and the dinner theaters for discounts. And also other promotions that would make many a traveler forget the Beaver ever existed.

Is Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop better than Buc-ee’s?

That’s for you to decide. My mom and step-dad used to live in Spring Hill and I’ve driven that stretch of I-65 plenty. Frommer’s says the place has been attracting big crowds, so a lot of travelers are voting with their turn signals. I do know it’s a different experience, with sit down dining, the bar and live music. Also, the Travel Stop welcomes truckers, with free truck parking, showers and laundry. You know Dolly wouldn’t allow discrimination against anyone.

Also, will Dolly’s partners make a deal with her other partners to let the Travel Stop serve the cinnamon bread which is incredibly popular? I haven’t seen it announced. The bread is actually a Silver Dollar City item that remained in the new park. I don’t know who has the rights to the recipe, the version at the Missouri Park is slightly different. But I imagine any legal hurdles could be worked out.

Dollywood’s Cinnamon bread kicks Beaver Nuggets in the, well, nuggets.

Have you made the stop at Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop yet? Let us know what you think in the comments and on the socials!