dollywood

Appalachia (Appa-latch-uh), an impoverished region of the eastern United States, is a time capsule: a place one can go to hear stories of old wonder and adventure that just don’t seem to exist anymore; to eat and drink the best American versions of jam, cinnamon bread, apple pie, and moonshine; and to momentarily forget what century it is. Dolly Parton, a world country star, holds this belief. She was born here, in Appalachia, in a one-room cottage tucked away in the forest of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Though departing to Hollywood when she was a young woman, Dolly never forsook her past, culture, or heritage and Appalachia is famously dear to her heart.