Dolly Parton was an American country singer, songwriter and actress. She appeared in 12 theatrically released films and made over 400 appearances on television.
Parton's first televised appearance was in 1956 on the Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour when she was 10 years old; she had previously appeared on Cas Walker's radio show. Her major television breakthrough came in 1967 when she was discovered by Porter Wagoner who had her join his weekly variety show, The Porter Wagoner Show. Parton appeared on 218 episodes of the show between 1967 and 1975 as a regular performer. Appearing on the show with Wagoner during this time is credited with helping to boost Parton to superstardom.
Following her departure from Wagoner's weekly show, Parton transitioned into a more pop-oriented musical style in 1976 and 1977. During this time Parton starred in her own variety show Dolly!, which ran for one season. Parton's popularity exploded following a string of appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson beginning in 1977, and she went on to be prominently featured in numerous television specials, including ones headlined by Mac Davis and Cher, with whom she shared manager Sandy Gallin.
In 1980, Parton made her theatrical film debut as Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5. She wrote the film's theme song, which was nominated for an Academy Award and a Grammy. In 1982, Parton appeared in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas as Mona Stangley. She contributed two additional songs to the film's score, "Sneakin' Around" and "I Will Always Love You". The film and Parton herself were nominated for Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) and Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical), respectively. In 1984, Parton starred in Rhinestone with Sylvester Stallone. The film was panned upon its release, and is generally regarded as a commercial and critical flop. However, the soundtrack yielded two top 10 hits for Parton, "Tennessee Homesick Blues" and "God Won't Get You".
Parton starred in the Christmas television special Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember with Kenny Rogers in 1984 to promote their collaborative Christmas album Once Upon a Christmas. In 1986, Parton starred in the made-for-television film A Smoky Mountain Christmas. During the 1987–1988 television season, Parton attempted a second variety show on ABC, also titled Dolly. Like the previous series, this one also only lasted one season.
Parton starred in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias with Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine,Julia Roberts, Daryl Hannah and Olympia Dukakis.
In 1991, Parton starred in the made-for-television film Wild Texas Wind.
Parton returned to the silver screen in 1992 with James Woods in the 1992 film Straight Talk. The film received mixed reviews, with most of the praise going to Parton and Woods' performances, while criticizing the storyline. In 1993, she made a cameo appearance in The Beverly Hillbillies.
In 1994, Parton starred in two pilot episodes for sitcoms, Heavens to Betsy, and Mindin' My Own Business, neither of which were ordered to series. Parton starred in the made-for-television films Unlikely Angel in 1996 and Blue Valley Songbird in 1999.
In the 2000s, Parton made appearances in the films Frank McKlusky, C.I. and Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous as well as television appearances on Reba and Hannah Montana.
Parton starred in the 2012 film Joyful Noise with Queen Latifah, Keke Palmer and Jeremy Jordan. She also made cameo appearances in The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom in 2011 and Hollywood to Dollywood in 2012.
In 2015, Parton and NBC produced the made-for-television film Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors featuring Parton as narrator. A sequel, Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love was produced in 2016, again featuring Parton as narrator and in a cameo appearance as the Painted Lady who inspired her signature style.
Parton and Netflix partnered together to produce a series of television films based on Parton's songs, titled Dolly Parton's Heartstrings. It was released in 2019.
Film Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1980 9 to 5 Doralee Rhodes Film debut 1982 Mona Stangley 1984 Rhinestone Jake Farris 1989 Steel Magnolias Truvy Jones 1992 Straight Talk Shirlee Kenyon 1993 Herself Cameo appearance 2002 Frank McKlusky, C.I. Edith McKlusky 2005 Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Herself Cameo appearance 2011 Gnomeo & Juliet Dolly Gnome Voice role The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom Herself Voice cameo 2012 Joyful Noise G.G. Sparrow Final feature film Hollywood to Dollywood Herself Cameo appearance
Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1956–1964 Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour Herself 1964 The Early Morning Show 1967 The Ralph Emery Early Morning Show Music City USA Guest performer 1967, 1973 The Wilburn Brothers Show 1967–1974 The Porter Wagoner Show Main role 1968–1970 The Kraft Music Hall "2nd Annual Country Music Association Awards""3rd Annual Country Music Association Awards""4th Annual Country Music Association Awards" 1969 An Old-Time Country Christmas Television special 1970 The Nashville Sound Documentary 197019721975 Hee Haw Musical guest, 3 episodes 197019741977 The Mike Douglas Show Country vocalist, 1 episodeGuest, 1 episodeCo-host, 5 episodes 1971 The David Frost Show That Good Ole Nashville Music Guest performer 1973 The Rowan and Martin Special Television special RCA's Opening Night Burt Reynolds' Late Show 1974 Dinah's Place 8th Annual Country Music Association Awards Television special; performer – nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and Vocal Duo of the Year 1975 In Concert Performer (this episode was issued on LP in 1975) Sing Country 1975 Television special; performer 9th Annual Country Music Association Awards Television special; performer – won Female Vocalist of the Year and nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year The Ronnie Prophet Show Guest performer Candid Camera 2 episodes Grand Ole Opry 50th Anniversary Television special 1976 Dinah! Guest performer Festival of Entertainment Television special Sing Country 1976 Television special; performer The Mac Davis Show 1 episode 10th Annual Country Music Association Awards Television special; performer – won Female Vocalist of the Year and nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year 1976–1977 Dolly! Host, also performer 1976, 1978 The Hollywood Squares Panelist, 6 episodes 1977 The 4th Annual American Music Awards Television special; nominated for Favorite Country Female Artist The 19th Annual Grammy Awards Television special; nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female ("All I Can Do") Captain Kangaroo Mac Davis: Sounds Like Home Television special Musikladen 1978 Cher... Special Television special 50 Years of Country Music Television special; host 1979 Dolly & Carol in Nashville Herself / Trudy Television special The Seventies: An Explosion of Country Music Herself Performer; later repackaged as Country Superstars of the '70s A Christmas Special... With Love, Mac Davis Television special 1980 Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters Episode: Pilote Mac Davis 10th Anniversary Special: I Still Believe in Music Television special 1981 Lily: Sold Out Special Alvin and the Chipmunks Voice role; episode: "Urban Chipmunk" 1984 Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember Television special (a "Making of" special was also released) 1985 Kenny & Dolly: Real Love Television special; promotional title: Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton: Together The Winning Hand Television special 1986 Lorna Davis Television film Dolly Herself Host, also performer 1988 Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show Television special 1989 Saturday Night Live Herself / various Host, also musical guest Kenny, Dolly and Willie: Something Inside So Strong Herself Television special 1990 Designing Women 2 episodes Dolly Parton: Christmas at Home Television special 1991 Babes Episode: "Hello Dolly" Wild Texas Wind Thiola "Big T" Rayfield Television film 1994 Heavens to Betsy Betsy Baxter Unaired TV pilot Mindin' My Own Business Catering business owner 1995 Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story Herself Television film; cameo appearance Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge Television film 1996 Unlikely Angel Ruby Diamond Dolly Parton: Treasures Self Television special Katrina Eloise "Murph" Murphy Episode: "Holiday Special" 1997 Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story Herself Television film; cameo appearance 1999 Voice role; episode: "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" Jackie's Back Television film; cameo appearance Blue Valley Songbird Leanna Taylor Television film 2000 Bette Herself Episode: "Halloween" 2005 Reba Dolly Majors "Reba's Rules of Real Estate" 200620072010 Hannah Montana Aunt Dolly 3 episodes 2009 17 Kids and Counting Herself 2010 Dolly Celebrates 25 Years of Dollywood 2011 Strictly Come Dancing Singer "Launch Show"; singing "Together You and I" 2012 Herself 1 episode 2013 A Country Christmas Story Television film Kenny & Dolly: An Intimate Conversation 2015 Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors Television film; narrator; also executive producer 2016 Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love Herself / The Painted Lady Television film; narrator; also executive producer 2018 Dolly & Friends: The Making of a Soundtrack Herself Television special; making of the Dumplin' soundtrack album 2019 Country Music Directed by Ken Burns; interviewed in all eight episodes Dolly Parton's Heartstrings Various roles 8 episodes Christmas at Dollywood Herself Television film (Hallmark) 2020 CMT Giants: Kenny Rogers Performer (performed: "Sweet Music Man") Biography: Dolly Parton Aired as Dolly Parton: Here I Am in the UK and on Netflix Biography: Kenny Rogers Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square Angel Television film (Netflix) A Holly Dolly Christmas Herself Television special (CBS) 2022 Grace & Frankie Agnes Episode: "The Beginning" The Orville Simulation of herself Episode: "Midnight Blue" Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas Herself Television film; also executive producer Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party Television special (NBC) Dolly Parton at the BBC A selection of Dolly Parton's live music performances at the BBC. 2023 Call Me Kat Episode: "Call Me Philliam"
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