Country music legends Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson sent Dollywood guests into a frenzy when they were spotted spending the day together at the beloved theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Their unexpected appearance quickly became the highlight of the day for visitors, many of whom captured the exciting moment on their phones.
The longtime friends were seen riding through the park in a golf cart, waving to cheering fans. One TikTok user who filmed the pair captioned the video, “Saw Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson today at Dollywood.” The short clip quickly spread across social media, drawing thousands of views and enthusiastic reactions.
Another visitor, April Nicole Fields, shared her excitement on Facebook, writing that the duo were filming scenes for Dolly Parton’s upcoming NBC Christmas movie.
Parton and Nelson were indeed at Dollywood to film portions of the new holiday project, which will feature a star-studded cast. Their visit coincided with Parton’s announcement of Big Bear Mountain, a nearly 4,000-foot-long roller coaster opening at the park in 2023.
While speaking at Dollywood, Parton opened up about the holiday special, revealing new details:
“Some of you may have heard we’re doing a special for NBC and we’re doing it all from Dollywood. It’s kind of like a movie — like a show — because it’s really a special with special guests like Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Jimmie Allen, Billy Ray Cyrus, and several others. My family’s going to be singing too.”
Parton went on to describe what viewers can expect:
“It’s kind of like we’re going behind the scenes and making a movie with actors and all the things that go on when trying to put a show together. People love to see that, so you’ll get to see what it’s like to build a show — all the drama and all the things that can go wrong. And they will go wrong! It’s airing on NBC sometime before Christmas.”
The film, titled Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas, is a musical movie set in the Smoky Mountains and filmed entirely at Dollywood. According to NBC’s synopsis, the story “tells the backstage story of making a network TV special,” taking viewers on a magical journey as Parton is visited by the Three Wise Men. Along the way, she learns heartfelt lessons that challenge her understanding of the true meaning of Christmas.
This project marks another collaboration between Parton and NBC. In 2015, the network partnered with the country icon to produce a series of TV films inspired by her life and music. The first film, Coat of Many Colors, became a ratings success, followed by its equally beloved sequel, Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.
With Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson reuniting on screen once again — and doing so at Dollywood — fans can look forward to a warm, nostalgic, and joy-filled holiday experience when the special airs.