Speaking to reporters about her latest gold-certified album, Dolly Parton today said her partnership with Gaylord Entertainment to develop a Nashville water-and-snow theme park is "kind of in a holding pattern right now." The $50 million project, to be located across Briley Parkway from the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, was announced in January and in April was approved for tax breaks by Metro Council members. But...

Then, with her characteristic smile, Parton reminded reporters that "nothing has ever been signed yet," and "[I] won't put my name on it, won't be involved, unless it's exactly right for me and everyone else so let's hope it works."

The reason for hitting the pause button is Gaylord's pending sale of its hotels brand and management rights to Marriott International. As a result of that deal, which was put on a much more solid footing this week, Gaylord execs also have said they will not move forward with plans to build a $800 million hotel/resort complex outside Denver.

Dollywood Co. officials have rolled out plans for RiverRush, a water coaster that is scheduled to open next May at Splash Country in Pigeon Forge. The attraction will be the first of its kind in Tennessee and will come to market about a year before the water-and-snow park Dollywood and Gaylord Entertainment are developing across Briley Parkway from the Gaylord Opryland complex.