Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, 26 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A 1993 portrait of Dolly Parton holding her guitar at Dollywood has taken on renewed significance following the country music star’s death aged 80, offering a reminder of the close relationship between her music, her Tennessee roots and the theme park that bears her name.
The photograph, taken by Ron Davis at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, shows Parton posing with her guitar in 1993. Getty Images records the image as having been created on 1 January that year and lists it within its Archive Photos collection.
Portrait captures Parton at her Tennessee landmark
The photograph dates from a period when Parton was already established internationally as a singer, songwriter and actress while maintaining strong connections to the Great Smoky Mountains region where she grew up.
Dollywood had opened under its present name seven years earlier, in 1986, after Parton joined the Herschend family in developing the existing Silver Dollar City attraction. The park traces its history on the site back to Rebel Railroad, which opened in 1961.
Parton’s involvement transformed the attraction into a destination closely connected with her public identity and East Tennessee heritage.
Dollywood became part of Parton’s wider legacy
The partnership proved significant for Pigeon Forge and the wider tourism industry. According to Dollywood, the park attracted 1.3 million visitors during its first season under the new name in 1986, around 75% more than Silver Dollar City’s final season the previous year.
Parton and the Herschend family remained partners in the attraction for four decades. Dollywood marked its 40th operating season in 2025, with Parton reflecting publicly on the park’s development and her pride in what it had become.
The 1993 guitar portrait therefore represents more than a publicity image. It places one of country music’s most recognisable performers inside a business and cultural project built around her connection to Tennessee.
Family confirms death at the age of 80
Parton’s official website announced that she died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, on 25 August 2026. She was 80.
The official announcement described her as a singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright and author. Parton was born on 19 January 1946 and remained one of the most internationally recognised figures associated with country music.
Her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, died in March 2025 at the age of 82 after nearly six decades of marriage.
Music and philanthropy shape a lasting legacy
Beyond Dollywood, Dolly Parton built a career spanning music, film, television and philanthropy. Her rise to national prominence accelerated through her partnership with Porter Wagoner, before she established a major solo career and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1969.
Her charitable work became another major part of her legacy, particularly through the Imagination Library, which provides books to young children.
Parton’s family has asked people wishing to honour her to make donations to the Imagination Library instead of sending flowers. A small private service is planned for immediate family members.
Historic image offers reminder of Tennessee connection
The 1993 portrait now provides a visual record of the relationship between Parton’s music and the region she consistently promoted throughout her career.
Her guitar, Dollywood and the Pigeon Forge setting bring together three elements that became closely associated with her public life: songwriting, entertainment and the Smoky Mountains.
As tributes continue following her death, the photograph captures Dolly Parton during a defining period when her success extended well beyond recording studios while remaining firmly connected to her Tennessee beginnings.
