Dolly launched her "Blue Smoke" World Tour in Rancho Mirage, California, playing to more than 40 audiences across North America, Europe, and Australia.
She mentioned how excited she was to start the tour,
“It’s always great to perform at home in the good ole USA. We’re kicking off our Blue Smoke World Tour right here at home. I love traveling all over the world, but it’s true, there’s nothing like home.”
Dolly toured in support of her 42nd studio album "Blue Smoke," the title of which comes from the Cherokee word "Sha-Kon-O-Hey," which means "Land of the Blue Smoke."
The tour was officially announced on "The Queen Latifah Show" in October 2013.
Dolly announced a 10-year $300 million investment plan at her Dollywood theme park which includes the addition of Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, located just a stone’s throw from her Dollywood’s Splash Country waterpark. She explained that,
“I’ve always been a big dreamer, just like I’ve always wanted to do more for my home here in these beautiful Smoky Mountains… This is where I nurtured my heart’s dreams, and I want to share more of them. My plans for the next 10 years are to expand my Dollywood properties to offer more opportunities to play together and grow closer while folks make their best memories. It’s truly the culmination of this country girl’s wildest dreams.”
The 307-room resort is inspired by Dolly’s Smoky Mountains upbringing, including expansive front porches, farmhouse-style restaurant, rocking chairs, storytelling spots, and fire pits for roasting marshmallows. The resort is located near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the country’s most visited.
Dolly’s love for family time and summer time came to life with music and light as Dollywood’s Great American Summer debuted in 2013. Special extended park hours from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. gave families more time to spend together as they enjoyed Dollywood’s rides and attractions at night. Each day was filled with new shows and nightly fireworks set to original music written and recorded by Dolly.
Dolly asked if families were ready to crush the rush before launching RiverRush, Tennessee’s first and only water coaster, for the first time on May 10, 2013, at her Dollywood’s Splash Country waterpark. Dolly said,
“Growing up, playing in the creeks and streams here in the Smoky Mountains, I could only dream of something like a water coaster. But look at us now... not only does Dollywood’s Splash Country have Tennessee’s first and only water coaster, we’re making water run uphill in it!”
Dolly hosted media representatives from across the country to launch the 2013 season at the waterpark.
Dolly credits her Uncle Bill Owens with being one of her earliest supporters and one of the biggest reasons she reached for her childhood dreams. On March 23, 2013, she dedicated a section of her Chasing Rainbows Museum at Dollywood in honor of Uncle Bill and everything he has done for her. The room features pictures, songs, her very first single and, occasionally, Uncle Bill himself!
