Parton stepping aside as parade grand marshal
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Dolly Parton said her Tennessee amusement park “has hogged the spotlight long enough” and she’s stepping aside as grand marshal of the Pigeon Forge spring parade after 32 years.
A news release from Dollywood and the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism announced the grand marshal of the May 4 parade will be baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.
Ripken is chairman and co-founder of Ripken Baseball. The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge, a $22.5 million youth baseball facility, opened in 2016.