WSEV-FM operates as Sevier County's only local FM radio station

Radio station

Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...

. While other stations are licensed to Sevierville, their studios are based in Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee

Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...

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History

WSEV-FM was originally licensed to Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg is a mountain resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, Gatlinburg had a population of 3,828. The city is a popular vacation resort, as it rests on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along U.S...

, as a sister to WSEV-AM, although the studios for both stations were located in Sevierville, Tennessee

Sevierville, Tennessee

Sevierville is a city in Sevier County, Tennessee, located in the Southeastern United States. Its population was 11,757 at the 2000 United States Census; in 2004 the estimated population was 14,101. Sevierville is the county seat of Sevier County, Tennessee....

. In 1990, Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton

Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...

 purchased WSEV-FM, changed the format to country music

Country music

Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

 and the call sign to WDLY. The station's slogan was "We're Dolly's Station". The stations were managed by Branson, Missouri broadcasters, Orr & Earls Broadcasting, Inc. WDLY had a tough time competing against Knoxville's WIVK

WIVK

WIVK-FM is an FM radio station broadcasting at 107.7 MHz near Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. The station is owned by Cumulus Media.WIVK is an Federal Communications Commission-Licensed Class C FM radio station serving the valleys and mountains of East Tennessee...

 and WOKI

WOKI

WOKI is a United States FM radio station serving the Knoxville, Tennessee area with an News/Talk format. It is an ABC Radio O&O station through Cumulus Media.WOKI operates at 8,000 watts at 98.7 MHz with a tower twenty miles northwest of Knoxville, TN...

 during the years they had a country format, although they simulcast on WSEV

WSEV (AM)

WSEV operates as Sevierville's first and only local AM radio station. While other stations are licensed to Sevierville, their studios are based in Knoxville, Tennessee.-History:...

-AM. After ten years as WDLY, the station was sold to East Tennessee Radio Group and the call sign reverted to WSEV-FM in May 2000.