Ocean Florida Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton with Support for Her Imagination Library

Tour operator to support Dolly Parton’s much-loved literacy programme through Tennessee holiday bookings

Ocean Florida is paying tribute to Dolly Parton by supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a cause that formed an extraordinary part of her life and philanthropic work.

From now until 30 September 2026, Ocean Florida will donate £25 for every person travelling on a Tennessee holiday booked during the period.

The connection to Tennessee runs through Dolly’s entire story. She was born in Sevier County in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, built her extraordinary career in Nashville, created Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, and founded the Imagination Library in the community where she grew up.

What began in Sevier County as a local initiative providing free books to children went on to become an international programme reaching millions of children around the world.

For British fans, Tennessee offers the opportunity to experience many of the places that shaped Dolly’s life and legacy:

• In Nashville, visitors can explore the city where her music career flourished, including the Ryman Auditorium and Country Music Hall of Fame. And from this autumn, fans will also be able to visit Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, opening in downtown Nashville inside Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel. The 20,000 sq ft museum will be the largest exhibition dedicated to her life, bringing together her music, costumes, personal stories, career and philanthropy. Tickets are currently available for visits from 29 September.
• Travelling east leads towards Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains – the landscape of Dolly’s childhood and one that remained deeply woven into her music and identity.
• Nearby Pigeon Forge is home to Dollywood, celebrating the music, culture, craftsmanship and Smoky Mountain heritage she championed throughout her career.

Ocean Florida already offers holidays that bring these places together. Its 15-day Georgia, Kentucky & Tennessee itinerary includes three nights in Nashville and two nights in Gatlinburg, with Dollywood available as an optional addition. Its Georgia, Great Smoky Mountains & Best of the Carolinas itinerary also includes a stay in Gatlinburg, with the opportunity to visit Dollywood in nearby Pigeon Forge.

For British fans who have loved Dolly and her music for generations, a journey through Tennessee now carries an added poignancy – a chance to see where her story began, experience the places that shaped her and celebrate the remarkable legacy she leaves behind.