Each year autumn drapes Dollywood—and the beautiful Smoky Mountains—in fall’s finest décor just in time for the National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration.
For 2013’s festival, Dolly said,
“There’s nothing quite like the sweet sound of Southern gospel music echoing through these gorgeous mountains this time of year during my National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration at Dollywood.”
The biggest names in Southern gospel music visited Dollywood and amazed guests with hundreds of concerts throughout the park during the celebration.
Some of the biggest names in Southern gospel music, including The McKameys, Karen Peck & New River, Guy Penrod and many more joined Dolly’s theme park, Dollywood, during its 2012 National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration presented by Humana.
Dolly’s love for gospel music and for true artisanship was highlighted during this harvest festival at Dollywood and was pleased to host such a gathering of talent. Dolly said,
“Nothing would make me happier than to be up there on stage with every group, singing and celebrating with each and every one of ‘em during my National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration.”
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.
Dolly sent riders on an explosive new ride featuring the world’s first spiral-loop coaster. Tennessee Tornado at Dollywood features back-to-back 360-degree loops. It is the first spiral loop coaster and was named 1999’s top scream machine by the American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Dolly opted out of riding the fastest roller coaster at Dollywood. Instead, she sent a train full of Dolly look-a-likes blasting out of the station on their first Tennessee Tornado ride!
Dollywood also became the headquarters of the Southern Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame and Museum. The new facility honored the genre’s legends with interactive displays. It featured more than 350 artifacts and a recording studio. Built adjacent to Showstreet Palace Theater, the Southern Gospel Music Association’s Hall of Fame debuted during Dollywood’s Southern Gospel Jubilee. Dolly sang alongside some of her Southern gospel friends as they performed a concert at Dollywood.
