Dolly Parton's 5 Most Memorable Movie Performances

Published Aug 30, 2026, 10:09 AM EDT Ryan Devlin is a New York-based writer and editor who has been covering arts and entertainment for two decades. He began his career at Premiere magazine profiling actors and directors, visiting movie sets, and writing features. He then settled in at The Week magazine, where he's run television, books, fine art, theater, and food coverage, and is currently a contributing editor. The passing of Dolly Parton has shook, well, everyone. You know you're universally loved when you're mourned equally by drag queens and good 'ol boys. She was a one-of-a-kind country music icon, but that was far from all. She was also a savvy businesswoman, devoted philanthropist, and a pretty damn fine actress, too. In the '80s and early '90s, Dolly carved out a memorable place in the movies. Though she never quite hit leading-lady status, she was a reliable on-screen presence, charismatic, warm, and brimming with homespun charm. Who needs range? She was always Dolly, and we loved her for it. These five performances are perfect for fans who aren't ready to say goodbye, and want just a little more Dolly in their lives. 5 'Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Image via Warner Bros. Let's be clear: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous is not a good movie. It scores an underwhelming 15 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and even Sandra Bullock has admitted it "shouldn't have been done." But doggone it if a cameo from Parton doesn't steal the show. In Las Vegas to hold a press conference as the "new face of the FBI," Bullock's Gracie Hart begins investigating the kidnapping of a beauty pageant winner and host. A tip that a Dolly Parton impersonator abetted the kidnappers sets Hart off when she spies the platinum-haired "impersonator" moving through a casino. An on-foot chase ensues, with the petite pursued booking it through a crowded casino like O.J. Simpson at the airport in one of those 1970s Hertz ads. Ultimately, Hart catches up, tackling her quarry only to find she's — the real Dolly Parton. You can see the punchline from a mile away, but it works because Dolly sells it — out of breath, exasperated, and just plain funny. 4 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' Image via Metro Cinema Sharing top billing with Burt Reynolds in a screwball musical comedy, Parton is the draw. She plays Miss Mona, the madame of a Texas brothel called the Chicken Ranch. By look-the-other-way arrangement, the institution is protected by the local authorities, notably Reynolds' Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, who is in a secret relationship with Miss Mona. Everything is imperiled when a reporter threatens an exposé. It's a musical, so of course Parton was going to kill it. She sings throughout, owning showstoppers like the opener, "A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Place," and duets like "Sneakin' Around" with Reynolds. But her performance of "I Will Always Love You," a re-recording of her 1974 hit for the film, is the true highlight. 3 'Straight Talk' Image via Buena Vista Pictures After a string of successful performances in the 80s, Parton got a crack at being a leading lady in 1992's Straight Talk. Leaving the tiny town of Flat River, Arkansas, her character, Shirlee Kenyon, moves to Chicago and gets a job as a receptionist at a radio station. Mistaken for the station's new call-in therapist, she's rushed into the booth and starts dispensing no-nonsense advice to distressed callers. The show is a success among listeners, who believe she's an actual doctor. At the same time, she begins a romantic relationship with a reporter, played by James Woods, who is secretly investigating her credentials. Straight Talk wasn't a big hit, and it didn't launch her into the rom-com game, but Dolly was Dolly, and it worked. Listening to her dispense homespun counsel as "Dr. Shirlee" is as comforting as a warm blanket. 2 'Steel Magnolias' Image via Sony Pictures Robert Harling's 1987 stage play about a cadre of Southern women whose bond strengthens in a time of crisis turned out to be a natural fit for Parton. Among a formidable group of seasoned actresses — Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Julia Roberts, Darryl Hannah, and Olympia Dukakis -- Dolly more than held her own. Director Herbert Ross reportedly openly questioned Parton's acting ability on set, but her performance was loved by audiences and critics. Playing Truvy Jones, a hair stylist with a heart of gold and a mind for gossip, didn't seem like much of a stretch for Parton. Still, she turned the role into something special, proving her ability to fully inhabit a role and make it look easy. "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion," quips Truvy at one point. Enough said. 1 '9 to 5' Image via Brooklyn Academy of Music Her breakout role was her best. Parton is a hoot alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in this classic workplace comedy. As the buxom Doralee Rhodes, she's an absolutely winsome member of the secretary pool, elevated to true heroine when Dabney Coleman's chauvinistic company vice president finally gets around to a blackmail attempt to get her to sleep with him. The role was one thing, but the song was something else entirely. Parton's title song for the movie soundtrack struck a chord, a workplace anthem to outdo Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job and Shove It." It was Dolly's only number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and launched her from country queen into the pop culture mainstream. She never left. Release Date December 19, 1980 Runtime 109 Minutes Director Colin Higgins Writers Patricia Resnick, Colin Higgins