Dolly Parton's megawatt smile and wavy locks are gracing fields across the US and Canada this fall. Twenty farms have carved out large corn mazes to honor the late country-music icon, actor, and philanthropist and raise money for her Imagination Library, which provides free books to children, reports the AP. The "Jolene" crooner's death due to cancer on Aug. 25 in Nashville at age 80 brought an outpouring of tributes, from a drive to rename the country music capital's airport in Parton's honor to a surge in online streams of her many hit songs. Now, she's being immortalized in corn, with the mazes located in about a dozen states and two provinces. Most also feature a Parton-themed trivia game, photo ops, and other offerings.
Brett Herbst, founder of The MAiZE Inc., the Utah-based consulting company that designed the mazes, calls Parton a "true American treasure." "Dolly's impact on the world and her love for farming is immeasurable, and our corn maze tributes now take on new meaning and significance," Herbst says. The company notes the mazes were in the works months before Parton died and are part of its annual campaign honoring country music stars. Previous honorees included Reba McEntire, Luke Bryan, and Lainey Wilson in 2025.
Parton, who famously grew up poor in rural Tennessee, thanked organizers for supporting her charity before her death. In a statement provided by The MAiZE Inc., she encouraged people to "get lost in this year's country music corn maze for a little fun, laughter, and a real good reason to get lost." One of the mazes is in an expansive cornfield next to Twins BBQ in Brookfield, Connecticut. The likeness of Parton beams skyward, ringed by the words "Dolly" and "An American Treasure" and a series of stars.
The labyrinths can be tricky. Stephanie Chen and her young son, William, were among those winding through the Parton maze there on Sunday. They say the easiest part was navigating the part where the "Dolly" is written out in capital letters. "Because there's only one way through," Chen jokes. Co-owner Danielle Gallop says the trickiest part is Parton's hair. "She has a lot of it, and it comes to little tips," Gallop notes. "You don't know where the next little opening is going to be. I got lost several times." The most memorable part of the experience: seeing visitors dressing up for the occasion. "We've had people in cowboy boots and cowboy hats and Dolly Parton shirts," Gallop says. "It's been really great to see all the love pouring out for her."
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