Dolly Parton's new movie "Joyful Noise" (2011) with Queen Latifah is a musical about a small-town gospel choir and two women who join together to save it. The beloved country singer with the big blond hair, tiny waist, and famously large chest has made a number of other movies worth watching. Here are some other don't-miss Dolly movies that just about everyone will love.
"9 to 5" (1980)
Parton is excellent from the start in her first acting role as Doralee Rhodes, the bodacious secretary to Dabney Coleman's male chauvinist boss in this movie. The comedy-fantasy with a revenge twist co-stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The film was a huge box-office success and earned Dolly two Golden Globe nominations and worldwide recognition for her acting ability.
In this film, as in all her appearances, Parton manages to relate to all women as someone down to earth from a humble background who just happens to like her over-the-top look. Doralee's fellow secretaries in the movie are quickly forgiven for thinking she is anything other than annoyed by the unwanted attention. When the three ladies get down to fantasizing and bond over how to get rid of the boss, the film begins to sparkle.
In addition to her acting accolades, Dolly wrote the title song for the movie, which turned into the biggest hit of her career. It was nominated for an Academy Award, two Grammy Awards, and is on the American Film Institute's list of 100 greatest songs from movies.
"The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982)
In this movie Dolly plays the madam of a wholesome whorehouse that is the cornerstone of the community. A local evangelist tries to get the place shut down, and she join forces with the local sheriff to save the establishment. Once again Parton's presence lights up the movie in a strong female role, and she almost steals the movie from her more experienced costars Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Charles Durning, and Jim Nabors.
Dolly was nominated in this feel-good comedy for another Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. She also had a number one country hit with her song from the movie "I Will Always Love You." That song went on to make movie and music history again a decade later when Whitney Houston's version in "The Bodyguard" (1992) catapulted it to one of the best-selling songs ever written.
"Steel Magnolias" (1989)
Another major and critical success for Dolly, "Steel Magnolias" is an ensemble chick-flick in which she plays Truvy, the owner of a hair salon where everybody goes to get their hair done in this small Southern town. In another pitch-perfect performance, she brings her country common sense to the role in this really fun and touching film about family and friends. In this movie, Parton holds her own against a formidable cast including Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Darryl Hannah, and Tom Skerritt.
More Dolly in the Movies
Although Dolly made a few other movies in her career, after "Steel Magnolias" she returned to her music. She did record a duet with James Ingram for the movie "Beethoven's 2nd" (1993) that was nominated for an Academy Award for Original Song. She was nominated for a second time for Best Song by the Academy in 2005 for "Travelin' Thru" for the movie "Transamerica" (2005). Parton also voiced a character in the movie "Gnomeo and Juliet" (2011).
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