Inside Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel and Life of Many Colors Museum: ‘It Was Her Dream’
Sprinkled with larger-than-life details, Dolly's new hotel and museum are officially open in downtown Nashville!
Key Takeaways
- Dolly Parton's SongTeller Hotel officially opened October 6 in downtown Nashville.
- The hotel's 245 rooms include a Six Sisters Suite honoring Dolly and her five sisters.
- Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum traces her journey from a Smoky Mountain cabin to stardom.
The day after graduating from Sevier County High School in 1964, Dolly Parton packed her bags and followed her dreams to Nashville. Before long, she skyrocketed to country music superstardom. But despite an incredible career that took her all around the globe, Dolly always still considered Music City home.
And last week, her longtime plan to open a hotel and museum in the heart of her favorite city came to fruition. On October 6, Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel officially opened in downtown Nashville. A sea of people stood outside 211 Commerce Street for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which concluded with a confetti burst of colorful paper butterflies and ‘9 to 5’ blaring from overhead speakers. Fans and visitors cheered, shouted and cried as they witnessed yet another one of Dolly’s dreams come true.
“Dolly’s greatest legacy may be the way she has made people feel—seen, welcomed, inspired and connected,” Shannon Foster, the hotel’s general manager, shares. “That’s the spirit we hope guests feel the moment they walk into SongTeller.”
But the most special part of the hotel is tucked on the third floor of the building—it’s Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum. If you want to learn more about the hotel or the museum, or both, you’re in the right place! Woman’s World was in attendance for the hotel and museum’s grand opening and we’re taking you along with us—keep reading for all the must-know details!
The hotel features heartfelt details on every floor
Developed over several years in collaboration with Dolly’s team, creative partners and Herschend, the hotel brings her signature style and shimmering joy to the heart of downtown. Its 245 rooms and suites feature playful nods to her musical legacy, including turntables, Dolly records and sparkly guitars (both real and in pillow form!).
In fact, one particularly sweet room is the Six Sisters Suite designed as a tribute to Dolly and her five sisters. The room features three queen beds, tons of natural light, a spacious bathroom and a sitting room complete with a chandelier full of glistening gems—inspired by the colors of each sister’s birthstone!
In the hotel, guests will also find a variety of dining options along with the SongTeller Café for coffee and quick bites. Upstairs, Parton’s Live celebrates her music and performance legacy, while Jolene’s, named after her 1973 hit, offers an intimate setting for live music and entertainment with nightly performances by Nashville singers and songwriters.
Walking through Dolly’s life at the museum
In the heart of the SongTeller Hotel lies one of the greatest musical stories of all time. Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum takes visitors through the milestones, memories and meaningful moments that trace her extraordinary journey in music, movies and more. The museum’s design and curation are led by Dolly’s sister, Rachel Parton George, and niece, Rebecca Seaver.
“The entire project was her dream: the hotel, the museum, the location, all of it,” Dolly’s niece Rebecca Seaver, who also serves as the museum’s executive director, tells Nashville Scene. “When she starts something, she has a complete vision for it. And the museum was no different.”
The 20,000-square-foot museum experience begins with a cozy replica of the two-room Smoky Mountain cabin where Dolly grew up and it sets the scene for the story that follows. From there, visitors trace her path from her East Tennessee roots to Nashville stardom and Hollywood fame, with exhibits arranged chronologically to bring different chapters of her life together.
Along the way, the museum offers a closer look at some priceless personal treasures. The collection includes Dolly’s wedding dress, iconic stage outfits and other memorabilia that capture moments from her life and career.
Dolly’s story through every chapter—from Nashville to Hollywood!
For Steve Summers, Dolly’s longtime creative director, the experience continues to reveal new details every time he steps foot inside. “I walk through the museum and every single time I see something I’ve never seen before,” he said during an exclusive panel at the hotel opening. “When I walk through it, I feel like she loves me and I think you will too.”
The museum also revisits Dolly’s life on the silver screen! Toward the middle of the museum, starry-lit movie posters light the way to a mini movie theater showing classic clips from beloved films including Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, 9 to 5 and, fittingly, Coat of Many Colors. “I miss her so much,” one fan told Woman’s World after the museum tour. “But when you walk through the hotel and especially the museum, she’s everywhere. I can’t think of a more beautiful way to celebrate her life than by making a visit here. You’ll feel her love and joy as you wander through. It’s truly spectacular.”
New surprises around every corner
In true thoughtful Dolly fashion, the Queen of Country also prerecorded various video clips that spring to life as you make your way through the museum. She’ll greet you and then walk you through the first time she met Carl Dean and the heart-tugging story behind leaving the Porter Wagoner show. Learning these tiny details about milestone moments directly from Dolly offers a uniquely heartfelt glimpse behind the scenes.
“Bringing this vision to life was not easy. It took countless hours, hard decisions, loss and a great deal of heart to get every detail right,” says Seaver. “But it has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, and it has deepened my appreciation for the story of a little girl who went from the top of the Smokies to the top of the world. I hope everyone who visits leaves inspired to dream, just as Dolly did. We can’t wait to welcome fans from around the world to experience her life of many colors.”
For more hotel information or to reserve a stay, visit www.songtellerhotel.com. For museum information, visit dollyslifeofmanycolors.com!
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