Why Dolly Parton Never Gets On the Rides at Dollywood

Dolly Parton is adored not only for her legendary music, but also for giving back to the rural community that raised her. Perhaps her most obvious contribution to her home state Tennessee has been Dollywood, her world-famous theme park. But did you know that the country star has never once tried out any of her own rides? And, in true Dolly fashion, it’s for a few hilarious yet practical reasons.

Dolly discussed the park’s recent expansion in an interview with The New York Times and admitted that she has no plans to of riding anything in any part of Dollywood. The “Jolene” singer explained candidly: “I have a tendency to get motion sickness. Also, I’m a little bit chicken.” She added that aesthetic issues were also a concern. “With all my hair I got so much to lose, like my wig or my shoes. I don’t like to get messed up. I’m gonna have some handsome man mess it up, I don’t want some ride doing it.” 

If you think about it, this is truly the most “Dolly Parton” reason ever for refusing to ride a roller coaster or take part in any other daredevil excursions. After all, this is the same woman who was once quoted saying, “Someone once asked me, ‘How long does it take to do your hair.’ I said, ‘I don’t know, I’m never there.'” 

But even though Dolly passes on the rides at her park, she’s more than happy to explore Wildwood Grove, the new six-acre addition. Based on the “daydreams and imaginations” Dolly had as a young child, Wildwood Grove features a 52-foot sculpture of a tree with hundreds of acrylic butterflies, along with games for young children to play and places for tired parents to rest. “Everything is tailor-made for kids and parents to bring families together,” she said.

Aww! Who needs a ride anyway, when you can enjoy a sight like that?

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