Dolly Parton: Smoky Mountains Advocate

By Maeve Kiley

The Great Smoky Mountains

“Smoky Mountain Songbird”

Famed country singer, actress, and philanthropist Dolly Parton went by many nicknames. After her 1973 hit song, “Jolene,” she was called “The Iron Butterfly” due to her fierce personality and effortless charm. When she launched The Imagination Library in 1995, magazines and tabloids dubbed her “The Book Lady.” She was frequently titled “The Queen of Country” due to her legendary 25 number-one singles and 100 million records sold worldwide. However, she embraced “The Smoky Mountain Songbird” because of her deep connection to her home and Appalachian roots.

Her love of her home went far beyond nicknames. Dolly Parton was a lifelong advocate for preserving her home state’s natural beauty, particularly the Great Smoky Mountains, which stretch along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina in the southeastern United States. The Great Smoky Mountains cover roughly 800 square miles and host over 22,900 documented species. Although the mountains are a National Park and federally protected, they have historically been threatened by invasive species, air pollution, climate change, and deforestation. Dolly Parton was a powerful advocate and defender of the Appalachian wilderness and the many species that reside within it.

The Music of the Mountains

Parton was born and raised in a tiny cabin in Locust Ridge, near the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Growing up, her life was shaped by the land’s natural beauty and the vibrant community living within it. She noted the running water and mountain mist as muses for her music, and the creative soul of her voice was rooted in the trees. Many of her songs pay homage to this foundational love of nature, including the 1973 classic "Tennessee Mountain Home.” 1987 “Wildflowers”, and 1984 "Tennessee Homesick Blues.” When building her iconic theme park, Dollywood, Parton took particular caution to work around the mountain topography rather than flattening the land. By preserving the land and natural beauty of the mountain range, the theme park has become famous for its custom terrariums that hug the cracks and curves of the rugged earth. Continuing with the goal of preservation, Dollywood’s operating partner, Herschend Family Entertainment, strictly follows the conservation guideline: planting 3 native trees for every 1 tree removed. These practices promote a culture of respect towards nature and prioritizing the earth’s needs during construction.

As her fame grew, so did her philanthropy. Parton was famous for her many charitable endeavors, including Imagination Library, The Dollywood Foundation, Buddy Program, and frequent financial and vocal support of various funds, grants, and donations. Although less recognized, Parton pursued multiple environmental charitable efforts and strongly advocated for the continued preservation of her Appalachian home.

Environmental Work & Advocacy

In 1991, Dollywood allied with the American Eagle Foundation (AEF) to construct a sanctuary for injured or orphaned eagles. The Eagle Mountain Sanctuary was a 400,000-cubic-foot habitat located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and operated for three and a half decades. The sanctuary’s goal was rehabilitation, with hundreds of birds released back into the wild each year. Unfortunately, the sanctuary was damaged during a severe storm and could not be safely reconstructed. In 2026, TAEF announced that the sanctuary would be permanently moved to Kodak, Tennessee.

Bald Eagles were not the only endangered species that Parton focused on. Dollywood prioritized wildlife protection by integrating it into daily management and business practices. The theme park built hundreds of specialized Monarch Waystations to provide native milkweed and nectar plants for the butterflies to feast on during migrations. Parton said she related to butterflies because of their “gentle spirit” and wanted to support the colorful symbol she so often used in her songs, albums, and merchandise.

During environmental disasters, Parton and her organizations were always first on the scene. She uplifted Appalachian communities suffering from wildfires, storms, floods, and hurricanes through donations and mobilization. During the catastrophic Great Smoky Mountains Wildfires of 2016, Dollywood Foundation's My People Fund distributed more than $12 million to families experiencing housing insecurity. Parton personally gave $200,000 directly to local Sevier County volunteer fire departments for their daily service and sacrifice during the wildfires. She raised and contributed financial support during the Middle Tennessee Floods of 2021 and Hurricane Helene in 2024. Her regional outreach programs have contributed $3 million to wildfire victims through her Mountain Tough Initiative.

She was also a vocal environmental advocate. During a 2002 interview with National Geographic, Parton stated, “We should pay more attention. We’re just mistreating Mother Nature-that’s like being ugly to your mama.” Her familial framing of the relationship between humanity and the earth continued when discussing the mountains of her home, “My hope for the environment, for all things living, and all things good-is that we should pay more attention to how we’re treating our mountains, how we’re treating our world, how we’re just treating everything.” Life does not stop with humanity; life is in every facet of existence, and every life deserves dignity and respect.

For her conservation efforts, Parton was awarded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partnership Award in 2003. The award specifically recognized her outstanding support for Bald Eagle conservation and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Her love for the environment has supported endangered species, uplifted communities, and raised awareness for important causes.

Legacy

On August 25, 2026, Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80. She leaves an incredible legacy of creativity, charity, and conservation. Although the world mourns her loss, humanity is left with the many gifts her advocacy has bestowed. Bald Eagles soar in the sky due to her work with AEF, and millions of wildlife victims were uplifted. In a world plagued with division and a disregard for the gifts of the earth, Dolly Parton’s legacy inspires change.

“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then you are an excellent leader.” -Dolly Parton (1946-2026).

Works Cited

Dolly Parton on what makes the Great Smoky Mountains so special. Culture. (n.d.). https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/dolly-parton-smoky-mountains-interview

Hayes, C. (2026, August 28). Dolly Parton’s favorite symbol: The butterfly story behind Dollywood.

Ellis, S. (2026, August 27). Dolly Parton helped save endangered bald eagles. Here’s how... Discover Wildlife. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/dolly-parton-eagle-mountain-sanctuary

Everything you need to know about Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Travel. (n.d.). https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/article/great-smoky-mountains-national-park

Mizner, F. (2026, August 27). In Memoriam: Dolly Parton. Philanthropy Roundtable. https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/in-memoriam-dolly-parton/

Remembering Dolly Parton: January 19, 1946 – August 25, 2026. Remembering Dolly Parton | January 19, 1946 – August 25, 2026. (n.d.). https://www.dollyparton.com/?srsltid=AfmBOor3LzryZFvbxebM0uc_ji1CuhaWji4ViH4mNmfiF2tNDVKVQyy0

Schueman, L. J., & One Earth. (2026, August 27). Dolly Parton’s lifelong love letter to the Smoky Mountains. One Earth. https://www.oneearth.org/one-earth-hero-dolly-parton/