Eugene Naughton, president of Dollywood Theme Parks and Resorts, described a pervasive sense of sadness following an unspecified event. "We're all feeling brokenhearted," Naughton stated in remarks to ABC News on August 26, 2026.
Naughton, who oversees the theme parks and resorts operations, shared these sentiments with ABC News' Will Reeve. The specific cause for the widespread grief was not detailed in the available notes, but the statement indicates a significant impact on those associated with Dollywood.