Remembering Dolly Parton: Her Greatest Movie Hits
Dolly Parton, who quietly stepped away from public life to address health issues last year, has died. Parton’s death was announced via Instagram by her nephew, Bryan Seaver. He noted, in the upload, that she died “peacefully” in Nashville. She was 80. The “Queen of Country” was considered a true American treasure, with her music, philanthropy, and kind nature inspiring millions. While Dolly Parton made her mark on the world with music, she was also a Hollywood star, appearing in beloved movie roles. Let’s take a look back at her greatest movie moments.
‘9 to 5’ (1980)
Dolly Parton’s film debut turned into a box office phenomenon. She starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in 9 to 5. The workplace comedy saw three overworked office employees turn the tables on their tyrannical boss in an effort to change the way things were run.
Parton didn’t just appear in the film; she also recorded the title track for it. It went on to become one of her greatest hits, earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Parton reconnected with Tomlin and Fonda for their hit Netflix series, Grace and Frankie, decades later. She appeared in a cameo in the show’s final season.
‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ (1982)
Two years later, Dolly Parton stepped in front of the camera again in the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. The 1982 film had Parton playing the proprietor of a Texas brothel. Burt Reynolds took on the other lead role as the small-town Texas sheriff.
The role allowed Parton to draw directly on her music. She performed several songs written for the film. The movie was a commercial success and is considered among the highest-grossing movie musicals of the 1980s. It also earned Parton a nomination at the Golden Globes.
‘Steel Magnolias’ (1989)
Parton’s next big hit came in 1989 with Steel Magnolias. She took on the role of salon owner Truvy Jones in a small Louisiana town. Parton starred alongside Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, and Daryl Hannah. While Parton’s role was smaller than some of the other stars, she was praised for her comic timing, with critics noting it helped balance humor with real heartbreak.
The film remains one of the most beloved ensemble dramas of its era, and Parton’s performance is frequently cited as among her finest. Julia Roberts received her first Academy Award nomination for her role in the movie. Parton did not receive a nomination for her work on the film, though fans believe it was among her best work.
Later Career and TV Movies
While Parton’s biggest theatrical roles came in the 1980s, she never fully stepped away from acting. In recent years, she found renewed success producing and starring in a series of television films under her own banner, including Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, which earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie in 2021. She also made a cameo in Grace and Frankie and appeared in several TV series, movies, and specials, either as herself or playing a fictional role. In the 1990s, she appeared in a short-lived series, Heavens to Betsy.
Parton’s family, in an official statement, described her as someone who made “us all feel like family” through her “wit, warmth, and kindness,” alongside her “timeless music and prolific songwriting.” While her music will likely remain her most enduring legacy, her film career offered millions of fans another way to fall in love with her.
