Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede gets name change, now called Stampede

Dolly Parton's Pigeon Forge dinner attraction, Dixie Stampede, has a new name.

It's now known as Dolly Parton's Stampede, according to a news release from World Choice Investments. The attraction will start its 2018 season later in January with shows on Jan. 19, 20, 26 and 27, according to its website. It also has a location in Branson, Missouri.

Removing confusion, concern about shows

Parton explained in the press release that the change streamlines the name of the show, will remove any confusion or concern about it, and will help efforts to bring the show into new cities.

“Our shows currently are identified by where they are located,” Parton said in the news release. “Some examples are Smoky Mountain Adventures or Dixie Stampede. We also recognize that attitudes change and feel that by streamlining the names of our shows, it will remove any confusion or concerns about our shows and will help our efforts to expand into new cities.”

“There is interest in several parts of the United States and internationally to host one of our unique dinner attraction shows,” said Jim Rule, World Choice Investments CEO, in the press release. “We provide spectacular family entertainment at a great value. We continually listen to our guests, and our desire to expand coupled with our desire to stay relevant in today’s changing world led us to simplify our shows’ names.”

World Choice Investments operates Stampede along with other dinner show attractions in Pigeon Forge; Branson, Missouri; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, according to the press release.

The name change has also been updated on the dinner show's website and Twitter page.

Show to have additions, changes

Dollywood's Director of Media and Public Relations Pete Owens said the show is evaluated at the end of each season, and updates are added.

The 2018 show season will feature changes in content and have new additions, according to Owens, though he didn't release specifics.

"We evaluate the show at the end of every season and update and make changes. We are changing show content again this year and have some new additions," Owens said.

Public officials react to change

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said he was disappointed that the show yielded to political correctness.

"Well, like everybody else, I love Dolly, and I love all that she's done for our community, which is her community, and I'm disappointed that they're yielding to political correctness," Burchett said. "What's next? Are we going to change the name of Dixie cups and the Dixie sugar company? You know, I just hope they don't change their Christmas program."

Rep. Eddie Smith, R-Knoxville, said he did not want to comment and that the legislature shouldn't be involved in a private business' name change.

Slate writer criticizes show in August

Slate writer Aisha Harris criticized the Pigeon Forge dinner show in a review published in August 2017 and said the show romanticizes the old South.

Harris called the show "a lily-white kitsch extravaganza that play-acts the Civil War but never once mentions slavery. Instead, it romanticizes the old South, with generous portions of both corn on the cob and Southern belles festooned in Christmas lights," according to her article.

News Sentinel columnist Greg Johnson wrote a column in response to Harris' article in August 2017. He described the show as a "comedic take on the battle between the North and the South."

"Harris looked for offense and found it everywhere," Johnson said in his column. "At no point in her screed did she note the character of the character she was attacking, Dolly Parton. Not one word of Dolly’s efforts to advance literacy by starting Imagination Library, which gives books to kids. Nary a mention of Dolly’s generosity toward victims of the 2016 wildfires in Sevier County."

Owens emailed a statement to Slate and Harris in response to her review, according to another Slate article published in September 2017.

In the statement, Owens said they would evaluate the information Harris wrote about in her review.

"Throughout Dixie Stampede’s 30 years of providing family entertainment, we strive to constantly improve the guest experience at our shows. Through that process, we survey our guests at every show. Accordingly, we will evaluate the information provided by Ms. Harris in her Slate.com article in regard to our Pigeon Forge and Branson operations," Owens said in the emailed statement.