You made your fame as a musician. But Dollywood has probably touched as many people as your records. It sits in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, not exactly poster children for sustainable development. How has your tourism philosophy changed since Dollywood's opening—what would you do differently? I really wouldn't do anything differently. Because, quite frankly, all I can really do is help people to care. I'm not in charge of policy—and certainly not able to change what's happened in the past. We have to try to balance giving people what they want and not giving away the store. We all know our places are challenged by too many people wanting to see them. So there's no simple, perfect answer. We just have to raise awareness and sensitivity. The national park is 75 years old, and it needs friends. I'm one of them. We want to bring people in. The area needs the revenue. And they want us—a wonderful problem to have. This is a land of opportunity and tourism. How do you know when to stop? It's not within my expertise to have the answer.
What kind of traveler are you? I like to get down to it. My husband and I travel a lot by RV. I guess that's because I grew up on tour buses. We'll go from east Tennessee—the mountains—to west Tennessee, which is flat as a board. They play to different moods, and we love them both. We like staying in cheap hotels—heck, if I can sneak into a Day's Inn, I'm there. We'll picnic on the riverbank, pull off on the side of the road. You don't need to be fancy to travel well. You just need to be curious and willing.
Where are some of your favorite retreats in Tennessee and elsewhere? Well, I have that mountain home in Chattanooga, and I've spent a lot of time in Hawaii—I had a house and restaurant in Honolulu. I've been all over Europe the last two years—by bus, of course. I love Old Hickory Lake in Nashville—a wonderful inspiration. Another place that's special is Graceland. I went there early one morning and it was magical.
When you're touring—what are your favorite spots on the road? Come on—every place is wonderful. I'm a gypsy. I just love places that are different than I am.
Where are the best venues to hear authentic country music? Any place that you feel connects in a way that's honest. I can't get into naming venues. I can't remember them, anyway.
Where do you go shopping when you're traveling—and for what? I'm a truck stop girl. Honest. I'm not an act. I go into Cracker Barrel and browse the shelf. Mostly I look for real stuff. My husband and I pull off the road to look at any old antique store. It's "Dolly is coming"—I blow in there, fly into the room, and get something wonderful that says I've been there. I just love my junk stuff. Wigs are what people think of when they picture me. But what I really look for is what my Daddy would love.
What are the most common misconceptions about Tennessee? Oh, gosh, that we're just a bunch of rednecks. And we are. But that's okay to tell each other. We know who we are. That just means we see the world differently. And seeing the world in a different way isn't a bad thing.
