I Slept in Dolly Parton's Tour Bus and Elvis Presley's Old Apartment-and It Was the Ultimate Tennessee Music Road Trip

"On a recent journey through Tennessee, I experienced two of the latter: first, I slept in Dolly Parton's former tour bus in the Great Smoky Mountains. That was followed by a stay in the Memphis apartment where Elvis Presley spent his formative teenage years. I've been a fervent fan of both musicians since I was a kid, and the whole thing felt like I was on a greatest-hits tour of Tennessee's ultimate music sleepovers."

"The journey started in Pigeon Forge, where I tumbled out of Parton's bed, ready to pour myself a cup of ambition. The superstar singer was born in the Great Smoky Mountains region of East Tennessee, and in 1961, she opened Dollywood Parks and Resorts theme park not far from where she grew up. This is where you'll now find Suite 1986, her beloved 45-foot motor coach. It served as her home-on-wheels for 15 years while she toured the country (Parton, famously, doesn't fly)."

Two Tennessee overnight experiences prioritized immersion over sleep: Dolly Parton's Suite 1986 motor coach at Dollywood and the Memphis apartment where Elvis Presley spent his formative teenage years. The 45-foot coach functioned as Parton's home-on-wheels for 15 years and is filled with sequined stage wear, sky-high wigs, hand-painted murals, rhinestones, and a tiny soaking tub. A plush pink velvet bed, a fold-down prayer table, and a small fridge stocked with snacks create an intimate, personal setting. Bejeweled Louboutins are displayed behind glass, and the space conveys a vivid sense of the performer's touring life.

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