Local lists the best movies filmed in and around Dolly Parton’s theme park
As one of the premier destinations in the Smoky Mountains, it’s no surprise that the Dollywood theme park has a cultural footprint that extends into pop culture. Personally, I’ve been running around Dollywood since the year it opened. I am never surprised to see professional cameras around the park.
Nowadays, you’re more likely to see YouTube celebs filming their park experiences. But you never know when the Queen herself may appear for a TV spot, a holiday special or to appear in one of her many movies.
1. Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors
Acting was never first on Dolly’s career agenda. However, a handful of movies through the 80s proved her more than capable of holding her own. In more recent years, Dolly has spent her onscreen time playing herself. That’s the case with this made-for-TV movie – probably the most successful project filmed at the park. The biography of Dolly’s life in the mountains is based on her song of the same name “Coat of Many Colors” which focuses on her upbringing. Most of the movie is filmed in Georgia. But Dolly herself filmed introductory and closing scenes from the Dollywood theme park.
2. Christmas at Dollywood
If you have any doubt that Dolly loves Christmas, check out this Christmas movie and the next handful of entries filmed for the Hallmark Channel, NBC and the Lifetime Network. Each of these are uplifting Christmas tales with a moral about family and love and the Christmas season. They are perfect to get you in the mood for the holidays. In this Hallmark Channel classic from 2019, a New York City event planner played by Danica McKeller – Winnie from “The Wonder Years” – returns to her Tennessee home and is hired to handle a 30th anniversary at Dollywood, where she clashes with the head of operations. Since it’s a Hallmark movie, I’ll let you guess what happens next.
3. A Christmas of Many Colors
This is a holiday follow-up to the “Coat of Many Colors” movie listed above. It features the same actors who return to Dolly’s Sevier County youth. You also watch her family overcome obstacles on the way to a perfect mountain Christmas.
4. A Country Christmas Story
In this 2013 movie, a young singer from an Appalachian town dreams of becoming a country music star. She participates in a singing contest at Dollywood. It was released in 2013.
5. Dolly’s Mountain Magic Christmas
This movie was kind of like a Muppet movie, but with Dolly Parton instead of Muppets. Personally, I think it just feels different from the above three entries and isn’t my personal favorite Dollywood Christmas film.
6. A Tennessee Mountain Thanksgiving
Every day’s a holiday with Dolly. In 1987, Dolly had a variety show that lasted 22 episodes. In many of the episodes, Dolly would go on a “date” with a male celebrity like Burt Reynolds, Bruce Willis, Patrick Duffy and Dudley Moore. There’d be a musical guest and some other shenanigans. Muppets were involved at least once. There was also a Christmas episode. But there was also this Thanksgiving-themed affair that featured real-life members of Dolly’s family including her mother and father, Avie Lee and Lee as well as her late brother Randy and sisters Stella and Fedia among others. It was filmed in and around her hometown.
7. Hollywood to Dollywood
The award-winning 2011 documentary followed a pair of twins traveling across the country in an RV called Jolene to deliver a script they wrote to Dolly Parton. It features several of their industry friends including the late, great Leslie Jordan. Parton saw the film and approved the use of her likeness and songs as well as some archival footage of her and the park. She does appear in the film in news clips and footage for the documentary.
If you think about it, it’s not surprising that most – if not all – of the film and movie projects in Dollywood are made by the Queen herself. Dolly is careful about her brand as well as her business and she’s not quick to cede control of either. Christmas is a popular theme for Dolly specials so if you’d like to see her in action filming in the park, late summer or early fall are likely the best times as that’s when Christmas projects are frequently in production.
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