See how Dolly Parton is on the ride of her life | Mashable

Dolly Parton may be known as an entertainer, but she's also a savvy businesswoman.So savvy, in fact, that she's built an empire around her songwriting, musical talents and country charm. Her investment in a little theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in 1985 has since blossomed into a southern entertainment mecca. Dollywood now attracts 2.5 million visitors a year — small in comparison to some theme parks (Disney World attracts more than 19 million), but enough to make the company the largest employer in the region.