'Sha-Kon-O-Hey!' show at Dollywood wins award

Friends of the Smokies Web site

Dollywood's production of "Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke" won the prestigious Heartbeat Award at last week's International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions awards ceremony in Las Vegas and sale of the show's commemorative CD continues to rake in money for the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

All eight songs on the CD were written and sung by Sevier County entertainment maven Dolly Parton and recount the heritage of the region and the emotional story of the last family leaving the area that would become Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Sha-Kon-O-Hey! - the Cherokee name for the Great Smoky Mountains which translates to "land of blue smoke" - premiered on May 9 at the family adventure park in Pigeon Forge.

The Heartbeat Award was the fourth-consecutive honor for Dollywood and 15th in the last four years - more than any theme park in the world.

The extravagant $1 million show was planned in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the nation's most-visited national park, with Parton serving as the celebration's official ambassador.

Proceeds from the sale of the Sha-Kon-O-Hey! CD and Parton's fundraising efforts at the show's debut go to the Friends of the Smokies, a nonprofit group dedicated to protecting and enhancing the national park.

"Dolly has helped us raise more than $225,000 so far. She really went above and beyond her role as 75th anniversary ambassador," said Holly Scott, marketing manager for the Friends group.

"Dolly is a genuine product of the mountains, but she's the No. 1 export. People love her."

Scott said proceeds from sales of the limited-run CD will go to the Friends of Smokies' Trails Forever Program, with hopes of establishing a third permanent trail crew in the national park.

Since its inception in 1993, the Friends of the Smokies have raised more than $28 million for the park.

Scott said the CD - available at several venues, including Dollywood and online at www.smokiesstore.org - would be the perfect Christmas present for supporters of the national park.

"They make great stocking-stuffers. The CD features really wonderful music," he said. "The sentiments in the songs echo the beauty of the mountains."

Mike Blackerby is a freelance contributor to the News Sentinel.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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