The country music star hopes to host Kate and her family at her Tennessee theme park following a missed meeting in the UK.
After missing an invitation from Princess Kate for tea at Buckingham Palace, Dolly Parton has offered a warm invitation of her own. The 78-year-old singer hopes to welcome Kate and her family to Dollywood, her popular amusement park in Tennessee, promising a relaxed visit and a taste of her own homemade mashed potatoes.
In 2023, Kate extended a tea invitation to Parton during the singer’s UK tour, but due to a packed schedule, Parton couldn’t make the visit. Reflecting on the missed opportunity in an interview with Closer, Parton expressed her regret, praising the Princess of Wales and extending an open invitation for Kate and her family to visit Dollywood. “I’d love to host them and let the children enjoy all the rides,” she said.
Parton playfully added, “I’d give Kate my mashed potatoes – no airs, just a good time.”
In August 2023, during a chat with Claudia Winkleman on BBC radio, Parton shared that her busy tour promoting her album Rockstar prevented her from accepting Kate’s offer. “I felt terrible about it, but my schedule was completely full,” she explained.
Speaking later to Saga Exceptional, Parton made it clear she hadn’t refused the invitation but was simply unable to fit it in. “I was honoured and flattered by the offer,” she said. “I just didn’t have a spare moment.”
With her new invitation, Parton hopes to give Kate and her family a taste of Southern hospitality at Dollywood, offering a fun-filled day and a warm welcome.
