SongTeller Opens Downtown
Dolly Parton's SongTeller Hotel and Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum opened in downtown Nashville. The hotel stands at 211 Commerce Street. The museum carries its own entrance at 126 3rd Avenue North.
The hotel holds 245 rooms and suites. It was created in partnership with Dolly Parton and Herschend. Dolly Parton Productions created the museum. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening. Children served by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library took part.
Two Live Rooms and a Cafe
Parton's Live occupies the second floor. The venue runs writers' rounds, songwriter sessions and rising-star showcases. Jolene's sits on the hotel's top floor and stages nightly performances. The hotel pairs both rooms with the SongTeller Cafe and elevated dining. Tickets to events in both venues book through the hotel.
The Museum Fills the Third Floor
Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum occupies the hotel's entire third floor and exceeds 20,000 square feet. The experience opens on 19 January 1946, the night Parton was born. Visitors move from her childhood in the Great Smoky Mountains through her early performing years and her rise on the Opry stages. The museum covers music, memorabilia, fashion, philanthropy, family and faith. The first room recreates her childhood cabin.
Parton guides visitors through the museum in footage filmed in 2026. Parton died on 25 August 2026 at the age of 80 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. NBC News, USA Today and The Associated Press carried the family statement.
The Build
AOA served as creative and production partner for the museum. The studio worked with Parton, Rachel Parton George, Rebecca Seaver and Steve Summers. On the hotel, AOA partnered with Herschend and managed the design team and the project schedule through construction.
Herschend describes itself in the release boilerplate as the world's largest family-held themed attractions company and cites a 40-year partnership with Parton.
The Opening Sequence
Reservations opened and the hotel soft-opened on 14 September 2026. The joint public opening followed on 29 September 2026. The ribbon-cutting grand opening took place on 6 October 2026.
The museum hosted a panel on opening day with Steve Summers, Parton's creative director, and Tom Acomb, chief creative officer and co-founder at AOA.
Shannon Foster, general manager of SongTeller Hotel, said Parton's greatest legacy may be the way she made people feel seen, welcomed, inspired and connected. Rebecca Seaver, executive director of the museum, said the day was one her family and team had dreamed about for years.
The museum takes bookings for private events, including weddings, receptions and business gatherings. Stays can be reserved through the hotel site or by telephone.