Dolly appeared in a cameo role as herself in the 2005 film "Miss Congeniality 2--Armed and Fabulous" starring Sandra Bullock who plays an FBI agent investigating a case in Las Vegas. During the investigation, Bullock’s character tackles Dolly after mistaking her for a suspicious impersonator.
Bullock explained how she got Dolly to accept the role, which includes some comic groping. She said,
“I sent her a letter with a lot of ‘pleases’ in it, and she wrote back saying ‘OK.’ It always freaks me out when things are easy, because I'm used to having to beg and going for the alternate choices.”
A 45-foot-tall, three-tiered Christmas pyramid—the country’s tallest—was the focal point of Dollywood’s 2004 Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. The pyramid is part of Dollywood’s An Olde World Christmas, the newest element of the theme park’s Christmas festival.
Standing 45.9 feet tall, the pyramid was located at the entrance to the park’s Craftsman’s Valley. It gently revolved, revealing intricate carvings depicting the Nativity. Measuring 20 feet in diameter, the first tier represented the magi keeping a watchful eye for the Christ child. The second tier revolved to reveal shepherds and sheep while trumpeting angels occupied the third tier.
This pyramid honors the rich heritage of Germany’s Erzgebirge region where miners first crafted the popular holiday icon. And, keeping with the German theme, Dolly said she looked forward to some traditional German specialties from the kitchen like Deep Dish Lasagna, German skillet cabbage, Olie Bollens, German tomato salad, Belgian waffles, strudel, bratwurst and mettwurst sandwiches and eggnog ice cream. She said,
“Christmastime in the Smokies reminds me of family gatherings, filled with good food, good times and laughter. I want families to experience all that and more at Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas.”
Dolly embarked on her first major tour in a decade when she started her "Hello, I’m Dolly" tour on Oct. 14, 2004, in Greenville North Carolina. "Hello, I’m Dolly" was a return to performing at larger venues following 2002’s "Halos and Horns" tour, a more intimate tour based around smaller venues. The tour featured 39 shows across the U.S. and Canada, ending at the Everett Events Center in Everett, Washington on Dec. 19, 2004. The shows featured new lighting, costumes, and video boards.
Dolly talked about what inspired her return to big arena touring and larger production values,
“In 2002, I went on a tour for three months to promote [the Sugar Hill Records bluegrass set 'Halos & Horns']... I realized how much I missed the road and how much the fans seemed to have missed me. It was just magical. I saw that I had some fans about all areas of my career... So I decided to combine all the things that I've done through the years."
For more tour photos click here.
Dollywood announced plans to expand its Country Fair area inside the park to include 10 new rides and a new look for the 2005 season. The emphasis of the expansion focused on family rides.
The Country Fair area already is one of the most popular areas within Dollywood. The expansion increased the area’s capacity by more than 2,000 passengers an hour. The rides include a mix of traditional favorites and unique experiences new to the industry. A 70-foot-tall airplane-style ride allowed passengers to create their own flight experience. Other themed rides offered twists, turns, spins and dips. Most allowed parents and children to experience the ride together.
Dolly believed in providing a park the whole family can enjoy. The new Dollywood family rides featured several attractions specifically designed for small children.
Dollywood’s resident gospel quartet the Kingdom Heirs took home the 2004 Band of the Year Award at this year’s Singing News Fan Awards on Sept. 16. The fan-voted awards ceremony was part of the National Quartet Convention.
This is the second time the Kingdom Heirs received this award. The Kingdom Heirs recorded a new Christmas album, "The Spirit of Christmas," which they featured during the Smoky Mountain Christmas festival.
