‘Christmas At Dollywood’ Stars Danica McKellar, Niall Matter Talk Dolly Parton, Possible Sequel

Take a trip over to Dollywood tonight with Danica McKellar and Niall Matter’s new Hallmark Channel movie, “Christmas at Dollywood.” Of course, the film wouldn’t be complete without Parton herself showing up to participate in some holiday festivities!

Written by Nina Weinman (“The Last Bridesmaid,” “Coming Home for Christmas”), the film follows as “event planner Rachel Davis (McKellar) returns to her Tennessee hometown to take on the biggest job of her career – Dollywood’s 30th Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration – and is teamed up with unimaginative operations director Luke Hakman (Matter) to plan an event that has to be as glamorous as Dolly Parton herself,” according to the synopsis. “And when Dolly gets involved in a little matchmaking, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas event lights up the sky with joy, laughter and love.”

The film, which was directed by Michael Robison (“A Godwink Christmas”), also stars Crystal Lowe (Maggie), Jason Cermak (Eric) and Zoë Noelle Baker (Ava).

Ahead of tonight’s premiere, the leads of the all-new Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas movie opened up to IBT about working with Parton and the possibility of a sequel.

“Dolly Parton is the most amazing human being I have ever met,” McKellar, who’s also an executive producer on the film, told IBT at Christmas Con 2019. “Whoever said don’t meet your idols never met Dolly Parton. She’s incredible. She’s beautiful, she’s gracious, she’s generous.”

Matter echoed his co-star’s sentiment, telling IBT at JCPenney’s “Christmas at Dollywood” premiere event in New York City on Thursday that Parton was “actually the big reason why [he] wanted to do” the film.

“She’s an icon, and she’s a living legend that’s still amongst us, so to get the opportunity to meet her was — it was everything to me,” the actor said.

While the two couldn’t share exactly what role Parton plays in the film, McKellar did tease that “she kind of helps make everything come together” for everyone in the end.

After the country icon helps out in the end, though, is the story really over, or is there a chance fans could see Parton, McKellar and Matter back for a “Christmas at Dollywood” sequel, a la the one “Christmas at Graceland” received?

“I hope so,” Matter said of wanting a second movie. “I think that there will be. I hope that, because Danica and I have talked about it, and we would both love to do that.”

Hallmarkies might have to wait a little while longer to find out whether or not a sequel is going to happen, but they only have to wait a few more hours until the first “Christmas at Dollywood” premieres on Hallmark Channel at 8 p.m. EST on Sunday.