A Look Back at Dolly Parton's Visit to Maury County

Issue #801

August 25, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌦️ Columbia’s Wednesday Weather - Light rain w/ high of 83, low of 68

📰 A Look Back at Dolly Parton's Visit to Maury County

👉 Maury 250 Continues Lecture Series With Program on George Washington

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

A Look Back at Dolly Parton's Visit to Maury County

Above is a fan-made video featuring Dolly Parton’s “Blue Valley Songbird,” the song that inspired the 1999 Lifetime television movie of the same name. Scenes from the movie are included in the video.

As Tennessee and the rest of the country mourn the loss of Dolly Parton, it feels especially meaningful to remember that the woman who became one of the state's most beloved and recognizable figures once spent time right here in Maury County.

Parton died today at 80, leaving behind a legacy that extends far beyond her music. In honor of her life and cultural legacy, President Trump has ordered U.S. flags at federal facilities to be flown at half-staff beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday and continuing through sunset September 1.

But long before today, Dolly made a memorable stop in northwest Maury County.

In July 1999, Parton came to the Bethel community to film scenes for The Blue Valley Songbird, a made-for-television movie that would later air on Lifetime. The production was filmed in several locations around Middle Tennessee, but Bethel - near the Williamson County line in northwest Maury County - became part of the movie's Tennessee setting.

The visit was particularly notable because it marked Parton's return to filming a feature-length production in her home state after many years away from Tennessee movie sets. She had previously filmed portions of Rhinestone in the same general area in the 1980s while co-starring with Sylvester Stallone.

For the residents of Bethel, though, the biggest attraction wasn't the cameras, crew or movie production. It was Dolly.

During a sweltering July day, with temperatures reaching 97 degrees, Parton stepped into Robert's Country Store while filming was underway nearby. Word spread quickly, and locals gathered for autographs and photos with one of Tennessee's biggest stars.

Parton was already familiar with the area and reportedly had a particular fondness for the little country store, stopping there when she was in town for its baloney sandwiches and plate lunches.

Several scenes for The Blue Valley Songbird were filmed at Bethel Church, a historic church dating back to 1849. Members of the congregation were even included in the production, appearing in a funeral scene filmed inside.

The church and nearby community became part of the fictional Tennessee world created for the film, giving a small corner of Maury County a brief role in a Dolly Parton movie.

For at least a little while in the summer of 1999, one of the most famous women in the world was right here in Maury County, walking into a country store in Bethel, chatting with locals and taking time for photos before heading back to work.

And for those who were there, it was probably a day they never forgot.

You can read the original 1999 article from The Tennessean about Dolly Parton's visit to Bethel and Maury County here.

Maury 250 Continues Lecture Series With Program on George Washington

The Maury 250th Commemoration Committee will continue their Lecture Series on August 29, 2025 at 10am at the West 7th Church of Christ located at 405 West 7th Street in Columbia, TN. It is free and open to the public.

The speaker, Dr. Lynn Nelson, will discuss President George Washington and some of the challenges he faced as this country’s first president.

Dr. Nelson is a Professor of History at Middle Tennessee State University. His research and teaching specialties are in Revolutionary America, the early American frontier, and environmental history. He has a Ph.D. from the College of William and Mary; a MA from the University of Kansas; and a BA from the University of Chicago.

He is the author of “Pharsalia: An Environmental Biography of a Southern Plantation, 1780-1880” (University of Georgia Press, 2007).

The Maury County 250th Committee includes representatives from the African American Heritage Society of Maury County, Columbia State Community College, Maury County Archives, Maury County Historical Society, and City of Mt. Pleasant and Spring Hill Library. “In addition to the lectures series, this committee has scheduled programs and events that will amplify the diverse voices and connect local and state history to the broader American story,” said Jo Ann McClellan, Project Director.

For more information about the schedule of events, please visit maury250.com.

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Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Wednesday, August 26th

Thursday, August 27th

Friday, August 28th

Saturday, August 29th

Sunday, August 30th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, August 27
Todd Ciprian - Tito's, 6-9 PM
Sarah Gross - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30-9 PM

Friday, August 28
TBA - The Spot: Burgers & Beer, 5-8 PM
Lydia Rae - Buck & Board, 6-8 PM
Tom Saffel & Robert Johnson - McCreary's Irish Pub & Eatery, 7-9 PM
Hit Songwriter Show - The Mulehouse, 7:30 PM
Alyssa Maries - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30-9 PM
The Zmed Brothers - Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Wentzel Brothers Band - Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, August 29
CrossBridges - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3-7 PM
Nick Bentely - Grinders Switch Winery, 7-9 PM
Curated Writers Round - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
The Branch Fiddle Band - Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Junkbox - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 7:30-10:30 PM
Eaglemaniacs - The Mulehouse, 8 PM
Main Street Vinyl - Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, August 30
Small Town Sweethearts - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1-5 PM
Parker & Joe - Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 2-5 PM
Vineyard Sessions - Natchez Hills Vineyard, 2-5 PM

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