Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Women We Love: Dolly Parton

Although primarily known for her incredible recording career, we love Dolly Parton for her movies too.

Dolly made her film debut in the beloved office comedy 9 to 5. The role of Doralee was likely tailored for the screen novice, but who cares. She is delightfully sassy in it, and her Oscar-nominated title track is a recurring theme song for anyone who has ever punched a time clock.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas followed, and despite her miscasting, Dolly charmed us again. And who could ever forget her heartbreaking rendition of her own "I Will Always Love You", years before Whitney Houston and The Bodyguard ruined it for everyone. After Burt Reynolds in Whorehouse, Dolly teamed with Sylvester Stallone in Rhinestone and ... well, the less said about that the better.

Dolly next joined the sterling ensemble cast of Steel Magnolias, thereby increasing the film's gay fave-ness tenfold. Her role in that film also led to her memorable guest appearance in one of the best episodes of Designing Women - just try to watch it without bawling your head off.

After Straight Talk (another misguided romantic comedy with ... James Woods?), Dolly has mostly stayed away from movies. That is, until she gave us the gift that was her brilliant, gospel-inspired anthem "Travelin' Thru", featured in the movie Transamerica. The song netted here her second Oscar nomination.

Returning full-circle to her first film success, Dolly is currently working on the score for the Broadway-bound stage musical version of 9 to 5.

Link via Imdb.com.

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