By Laura Tenpenny (’11)
Stepping into the soon-to-open SongTeller Hotel in downtown Nashville, you’ll find yourself greeted by all the color of a property styled as Dolly Parton’s love letter to Music City. It’s set to include 245 guest rooms, 33 suites, three dining spaces, live music venues, and Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum—the largest-ever collection of Dolly memorabilia.
And if you’re booking SongTeller’s spaces, say, for a family or a corporate event, you’ll likely arrange your visit with Brittany Fryman (’19), the property’s inaugural director of sales.
“One of my favorite spaces is the Six Sisters Suite—requested specifically by Dolly. It’s got so many surprise-and-delight moments, like a table from a local artist that includes each of her sisters’ birth month flowers on the top,” says Fryman. “Every detail reflects the story of Dolly’s life and history with music.”
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, alumna says that this also marks a milestone in her story. In April 2025, Fryman joined Herschend, which helps run Dolly’s properties and entertainment ventures, including Dollywood.
With this move, Fryman became one of the youngest hotel sales directors in the city’s competitive tourism landscape, reflected in Davidson County’s record $11.2 billion in visitor spending in 2024.
“It’s been great to build something from the ground up. I’ve been working with the team to get word out and build the hotel’s sales infrastructure basically from scratch,” says Fryman.
Rendering of the SongTeller Hotel lobby sitting area
Brittany Fryman (right) at the Songteller Hotel construction site
An example of a SongTeller Hotel guest room
Making Herself at Home in Hospitality
Before she was building something new in Nashville, Fryman learned how to build experiences on Rocky Top as a hospitality and tourism management (HTM) student.
When touring colleges, Fryman already knew she wanted to pursue hospitality and “fell head over heels” for the close-knit community of UT’s Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management;(RHTM).
“Going to a football game in Neyland Stadium with my sister—also a UT alum—didn’t hurt either,” says Fryman. “Everyone I met demonstrated the personalized attention I went on to experience throughout college. The department was clearly invested in getting me everything I’d need for my career ahead.”
Faculty and staff saw her potential early and pushed her to take on challenges, like pursuing a senior capstone class in her first year. A graduate assistant for the course recruited her to join him in what was then the university’s special events office led by Beth Gladden, now assistant vice chancellor for university events and experiences.
As an undergraduate fellow, Fryman helped produce VIP occasions like building dedications and Torchbearer awards, UT’s highest student honor, as well as university commencement ceremonies. The work involved constant problem-solving and devotion to a level of detail that left little room for error.
But it was there, in those high-stakes environments, that Fryman first sharpened her instincts and put her classroom knowledge into action.
“I’d like to be Beth Gladden when I grow up!” jokes Fryman. “My time with her office gave me the best exposure to high-profile event coordination and execution, building my confidence to work in high-pressure environments.”
I love facilitating connections between students and people I know in the industry. As alumni, our careers are fulfilling—I love waking up each day to do what I do—but working with current students at your own university is one of the most fulfilling things you can do as a successful professional.”
Brittany Fryman (’19)
Fryman (center) with Beth Gladden (center right) and UT’s special events team
Becoming a Changemaker Beyond the Classroom
Fryman has stayed in touch with Gladden, as well as Associate Professor for Hospitality and Tourism Management Stefanie Benjamin.
“Dr. B was real about what to expect after graduation, and she would offer honest feedback,” says Fryman. “She was always getting us out of the classroom to volunteer at music festivals or work with real clients on their events.”
The environment created by Benjamin—bringing students into live event settings and encouraging client interaction—mirrored the realities of the industry.
“I want students to not just fit into industries but to think critically about how they might change them,” says Benjamin. “Career readiness isn’t just about technical skills. It’s about emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and resilience.
“So, watching Brittany thrive in a demanding industry that’s not always equitable makes me really proud. Leading sales for a high-profile hotel in a place like Nashville this early on is a big deal.”
During Fryman’s senior year, a connection in the department recommended her to Chartwell Hospitality, her first employer out of college. Working for Chartwell across multiple Hilton properties in the Nashville area, she followed a traditional path through hotel sales.
Her UT network and support system continue to serve her well as an alumna in Nashville’s tourism scene, where the Volunteer community represents broadly—an RHTM graduate even leads the Music City Center, one of Nashville’s largest premier venues.
“Our RHTM programs are closely aligned with one of Tennessee’s largest economic sectors. Every student has access to meaningful, hands-on opportunities that go far beyond traditional internships—like our singular Blissful Wish Wedding initiative,” explains Junehee Kwon, RHTM department head. “And alumni engagement like Brittany’s is essential to providing these truly transformative learning experiences.”
Not long after graduating, the department invited Fryman to return to campus to speak to a class. What started as a one-time visit has grown into an ongoing commitment.
Fryman at the Torchbearer statue posing for graduation photos
Fryman enjoying Feria de Abril in Seville during her semester abroad
Fryman (right) and SongTeller Hotel staff at an industry event in Nashville
Opening Doors for SongTeller and the Next Generation
Last fall, she served on an alumni panel for the department, and earlier this year, she participated in the networking portion of the department’s Nashville industry trip, helping students see what’s possible and giving them the kind of guidance she once received. As a student, Fryman attended a similar departmental trip to New York City to meet alumni in the city’s expansive tourism and hospitality field.
For Fryman, these interactions act as an extension of the work she does every day and what first attracted her to hospitality: building relationships.
“I love facilitating connections between students and people I know in the industry,” says Fryman. “As alumni, our careers are fulfilling—I love waking up each day to do what I do—but working with current students at your own university is one of the most fulfilling things you can do as a successful professional.”
As the SongTeller Hotel prepares to open later this year, Fryman is already thinking about the possibility of welcoming UT RHTM students into the space she helped build—creating new opportunities for learning, connection, and experience like she had as a Volunteer.
“There’s something really powerful about alumni coming back not just to say, ‘I made it,’ but to say, ‘Here’s what I’ve learned, and I want to make this path a little clearer for you.’ That kind of presence makes a huge difference for students who are trying to figure out where they belong,” says Benjamin. “Brittany’s exactly the kind of person you hope will come out of your classroom—not just successful, but thoughtful about what that success means.”
Fryman’s student-to-alumni trajectory is still unfolding. Like any good story, or song, its impact will last far beyond the final note.
Want to learn more about becoming an involved and invested alum?
Fryman toured the New York City hospitality scene as a student during a trip with the RHTM department.
Fryman at January’s Nashville networking event speaking with RHTM students
Group shot from the networking event held during the RHTM Nashville industry trip
