Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel officially opened its doors in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, just weeks after the country music icon passed away on August 25 from cancer. Located on Commerce Street, the 12-story, 245-room hotel features a distinctive guitar-shaped entrance with gold strings extending several stories and capped by a glowing butterfly, reflecting Parton’s vibrant style and musical legacy.
The hotel’s interior pays homage to Parton’s career and persona, with a two-story lobby dominated by pink marble flooring that forms a sweeping guitar shape beneath a colorful chandelier. Throughout the space, nods to songwriting and music are abundant, including a guitar-shaped communal writing table in the Listening Lobby. At the top of each hour, selections from Parton’s extensive catalog are played. Guests can also participate in a daily scheduled songwriting session, designed to encourage creativity.
SongTeller is a collaboration between Parton and Herschend Enterprises, the family-owned company behind Dollywood and other entertainment attractions. The opening of the hotel marks the latest addition to Parton’s long-standing involvement in tourism and hospitality. Since launching Dollywood in 1986, Parton helped create a resort complex that draws approximately four million visitors annually to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Despite the hotel’s celebratory debut, its launch comes amid challenges posed by Parton’s passing. Plans for promotion and a Las Vegas residency were postponed earlier in the year due to Parton’s health, and her final public appearance took place in June during the opening of Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee.
The hotel’s design includes rooms and suites that emphasize Parton’s musical heritage and familial connections. Standard Signature Rooms start at $339 per night and accommodate up to four guests. Specialty suites like the Acoustic Suite, intended as songwriting spaces, and the Six Sisters Suite, named for Parton and her five siblings, offer larger accommodations suited for groups. The largest accommodation, the two-story SongTeller Suite, features a grand piano and is aimed at couples.
Two performance venues operate within the hotel. Parton’s Live, located on the second floor, serves as a restaurant and large music hall for performances ranging from emerging artists to established acts. Jolene’s, an intimate club on the 11th floor, overlooks the Cumberland River and features craft cocktails, small plates, and live music in a more private setting.
Also housed on the third floor is Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, where visitors can explore exhibits on Parton’s seven-decade career, including stage costumes and honors she received. The museum also highlights her philanthropic work, such as the Imagination Library, a program inspired by her father’s illiteracy that has distributed millions of books to children.
Shannon Foster, general manager of the SongTeller Hotel, described the project as a continuation of Parton’s story and spirit. Early visitors such as songwriter Katie Ziegler expressed emotional responses to the experience, noting a sense of peace and connection while staying at the property. The hotel’s debut underscores Parton’s enduring impact on Nashville’s music scene and the larger cultural landscape.