Dolly Parton takes swipe at Buc-ee’s during grand opening of truck stop in Tennessee

Country music icon Dolly Parton called out a popular travel center chain during a surprise appearance at the grand opening of her new truck stop in Cornersville, Tennessee.

On June 24, 2026, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop officially opened for business at Exit 22 off of I-65 in Cornersville, Tennessee.

As part of the grand opening, Dolly Parton herself made a surprise appearance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to kick off the weeklong celebration.

During her appearance, Parton took a jab at the famously not-trucker-friendly travel stop chain Buc-ee’s.

“I’m sure some of you wonder why I wanted a truck stop,” Parton said. “Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers,” she quipped, referencing the Buc-ee’s beaver mascot.

The cheeky dig at Buc-ee’s drew laughter and cheers from the crowd.

You can check out the fun moment in the video below.

“Well, the doors are open and I could not be prouder. Whether you are hauling loads, hauling the family, or just passing through, we built this place for you,” Parton said. “Good food, real rest, a little music, and people who are genuinely glad you stopped in…that’s what the road has always deserved, and that is what you will find here. Welcome home.” 

Amenities for truckers at the location include:

• Truck parking
• Fueling lanes
• Trucker’s lounge
• General store
• Dog park
• Restroom facilities

Ownership says that Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop “reimagines what a roadside stop can be for truck drivers, families, and travelers of all kinds.”

In 2021, a fire occurred at the original Tennessean Truck Stop, causing the ceiling over the restaurant portion of the truck stop to collapse and resulting in a long-term closure.