Known as the country singer and actress with a heart of gold, Dolly Parton's fame has far transcended her role in country music, and she is a beloved figure. As a musician, her silky voice and heartfelt lyrics never fail to evoke raw emotions from anyone who listens.
Despite her niche genre, Dolly's music has appeared in a wide variety of films and TV shows and it always adds something special. Whether it's workplace comedies like 9 to 5, or exciting Sci-fi like Stranger Things, Dolly's music is the perfect underscore for a scene.
Stranger Things (2016-Present)
Featuring a soundtrack stuffed full of great 1980s music, Stranger Things delivered everything a fan of nostalgia could ever hope for. The show centers around a group of tweens in a small town who befriend a strange girl who possesses supernatural powers.
While most of the music in the show is the hippest and most cutting edge of the time, a few characters didn't quite fit into the new wave. In the episode "Trick or Treat, Freak", the beloved character, Bob, shows off a bit of his own musical taste when listening to the Dolly Parton song "Islands In the Stream". Her duet with Kenny Rogers was one of her biggest hits, and it was interesting to see the show represent other hits from the 1980s, aside from the most popular music of the time.
Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
Dolly's southern roots are important to her, and her life story is somewhat similar to the lead character in Sweet Home Alabama. A woman who moved to New York and made a life for herself has to return to her small Alabama hometown in order to obtain a divorce from her estranged husband.
Dolly contributes a hidden gem to the film by the name of "Marry Me". The song is a send-up to small town values, and the narrator talks about how quickly one could be rushed into a marriage after small moments of intimacy. Not only do the lyrics perfectly match the story of the film, but the bluegrass inspired instrumentation underscores the scenes well.
Songcatcher (2000)
Generally considered one of the best films about country music, Songcatcher tells a story from the early days of the genre. A brilliant musicologist travels to rural Appalachia after being denied a promotion at her university. While there, she accidentally stumbles across a treasure trove of ancient folk songs that have been part of the community for generations.
Considering the story is about the history of country music, it was only natural to feature an important figure in the industry on the soundtrack. Dolly contributes to the film and does a haunting rendition of the song "When Love is New", which perfectly recreates the classic folk style. Blending seamlessly with the other important tunes featured in the film, Dolly showed that she was so much more than a pop country singer.
Beethoven's 2nd (1993)
While not necessarily the most celebrated film series of all time, Beethoven was a surprise box-office hit, and the sequel attempted to recapture the magic. Beethoven's 2nd sees the popular canine become a father, unfortunately for the Saint Bernard, his beloved Missy is kidnapped and he must help bring her back.
As was the trend in the 1990s, the soundtrack of Beethoven's 2nd is anchored by an over-the-top R&B pop song that underscores the credits. Stepping out of her comfort zone, Dolly performs a duet with singer James Ingram on the song "The Day I Fall In Love". While it does remove Dolly from her country style, she is able to show off her vocal power and she holds her own in a genre that she typically doesn't work in.
Big Love (2006-2011)
Usually in the conversation concerning the best HBO shows of all time, Big Love wasn't afraid to tackle taboo topics. The show centers around a polygamist who must balance his many family relationships with his public life as the owner of several hardware stores in the Salt Lake City area.
The soundtrack of the series featured a wide variety of music, and songs were usually picked for their emotional weight. The episode "A Seat at the Table", sees several of the show's female characters questioning their position in the family. To underscore the emotions of the episode, the song "Wildflowers" was exquisitely curated. The trio song with Dolly, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt is all about how a free spirit cannot be contained, and it can thrive anywhere it goes.
GLOW (2017-2019)
Few shows succeeded blending comedy and drama together with as much consistency as the GLOW. The show chronicled the lives and work of a troop of female pro wrestlers known as The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.
The episode "Homeward Bound" sees the cast take a trip to the desert for an overnight camp. When things don't go as planned, the adventure has everyone questioning their life choices and they all grow closer as a group. The song "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" perfectly underscores the final scene of the episode with lyrics about finding hope in new beginnings. The proverbial morning of the song is met with a literal morning in the show.
The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)
Based on the TV show of the same name, The Beverly Hillbillies attempted to recapture the magic of the classic series. Jed Clampett is a common man who accidentally strikes oil and makes enough money to move his family to Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.
Like the show, the theme of the movie is about remaining true to who you are even in the face of tremendous wealth. To put a fine point on that message, Dolly Parton contributed the song "If You Ain't Got Love" to the soundtrack. The rousing anthem extols the virtue of family, and the lyrics specifically mention how wealth cannot replace true love.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
In the middle of his career-defining run of classic hits, director Martin Scorsese delivered a thoughtful hidden gem. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is the story of a recently widowed woman who takes her young son on the road with her in pursuit of her dream of becoming a singer.
The character-based drama also features a whirlwind romance between two polar opposite characters, and it is the hinge of the story. To punctate their love, Dolly Parton's classic hit "I Will Always Love You" appears several times in various honky tonks and bars. Though it is merely used as ambience, the message of undying love also corresponds with what is happening on screen.
The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (1982)
Though she is a serious figure in the country music scene, her performance in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas showed that Dolly had a sillier side as well. A small town Texas sheriff does everything he can to preserve his local house of ill-repute after a TV reporter threatens to expose it.
Pulling double duty, Dolly not only stars in the film, but she also penned many of the musical's most memorable tunes. Performing with her co-star Burt Reynolds, Dolly's song "Sneakin' Around" perfectly sums up the film. With lyrics filled with silly double-entendre, the song summarizes their relationship, as well as the tone of the film in general.
9 To 5 (1980)
In order to land Dolly Parton in one of the lead roles, she was allowed to pen the theme song for 9 to 5, and the film was all the more better because of it. Three female employees of a sexist and brutish businessman decide to get revenge against him.
While the story is a fun comedy romp with an ensemble cast of ringers, the heart of the film is the rollicking theme song that shares the film's title. Fulfilling its purpose as a theme song, "9 to 5" introduces the themes of the film and does it with a fair amount of flair. Showing Dolly at her best, "9 to 5" is still one of her most beloved tunes.
