PIGEON FORGE - October 1, 2002 -- This fall, a spectacular celebration of gospel sounds will once again fill the autumn air at Dollywood as the park presents its 7th Annual Southern Gospel Jubilee. This special event, which is featured daily during Dollywood's annual Harvest Celebration, will showcase more than 30 of the country's most popular Southern gospel performers in more than 275 show performances from October 4 through November 2 (closed Thursdays).

Well-known gospel recording artists and performers such as The Carolina Boys, Palmetto State Quartet, Kirk Talley, and The McKameys will perform at four stages throughout Dollywood every day during the month-long spiritual show spectacular. Dollywood visitors will have a chance to hear a variety of different types of gospel music - traditional gospel songs by The Inspirations and The Galloways; the lively harmonies of bluegrass gospel by The Lewis Family and The Isaacs; the up-tempo gospel sounds of Won By One; and Dollywood's own award-winning gospel group The Kingdom Heirs, who will perform with Amy Lambert and Southern gospel legend Dr. Jerry Goff during much of the event. And several new artists will be appearing at Dollywood for the first time since this special spiritual event began in 1996, including Heirline, Jessica King, Journeymen, and The Landmarks.

This event also offers Southern gospel music lovers a chance to see the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum, which opened at Dollywood in April 1999. This uniquely uplifting attraction highlights and reflects on the origins of Southern Gospel music, celebrates its present growth and popularity, and looks forward to the music's bright future through an ever-changing museum.

Dollywood is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Harvest Celebration this year with 2,500 square-feet of craft demonstrations by local craft guilds, 25 new crafters in addition to the artisans who regularly visit Dollywood each fall, a platter-full of new fall foods, and a "silver anniversary" twist on the park's décor of thousands upon thousands of pumpkins, cornstalks, and mums. All of the special activities of the Harvest Celebration and the Southern Gospel Jubilee are included in the cost of admission to Dollywood.

Dollywood's Southern Gospel Jubilee is co-presented by The Singing News and The Southern Gospel Music Association.