Dolly Parton severs relationship with Nashville theme park partners

Country singer Dolly Parton has decided to withdraw her partnership in a new Nashville theme park.

A statement released by the legendary singer on Friday said in part: “Gaylord makes decisions that they feel are good for their company and their stockholders and I have to make decisions based on what is best for me and the Dollywood Company.”

Earlier this year Dolly and Gaylord Entertainment CEO Colin Reed announced they will partner up to build a first of its kind 114 acre family entertainment zone off Briley Parkway in Tennessee.

The first phased was to be a $50 million water and snow theme park, which was scheduled to open the summer of 2014.

Reed released a statement from his company saying in part: “We are deeply disappointed in today’s news that Dollywood will no longer partner with us to build a family attraction.  We have enormous admiration for Dolly Parton and her company, and respect their decision…We will endeavor to find another quality partner so that this important tourism project can become a reality.

Dolly already has a theme park and a water park in Pigeon Forge, which is in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee.

The park attracts about four million visitors yearly.