Remembering Dolly Parton through her book-to-screen roles

Dolly Parton died August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. Photo: Netflix

While the iconic Dolly Parton will always primarily be associated with her musical prowess, she also made a name for herself as an actor over her decades in the spotlight.

She was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actress – Musical/Comedy for her role in the comedy “9 to 5” and appeared in a number of television specials over the years, including “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” and “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings.”

The selection is small, but Parton also dabbled a little in adaptations in two of her most notable roles—as Truvy in “Steel Magnolias” and as Mona in “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”

Parton was part of the ensemble cast in 1989’s “Steel Magnolias,” which included Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts. It was adapted from the play by Robert Harling, who was largely inspired by his own family.

Parton plays Truvy Jones, a cosmetologist who runs a salon out of her own home and acts as a sort of straight man to the antics of the other women in her circle. She’s also the hub for all the gossip in her small, southern town.

The film is both funny and heartwarming, but also devastating. Have some tissues handy.

One of Parton’s first films was the musical “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” based on the play by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson. She stars as Mona Stangely, the fun-loving and philanthropic madam of a brothel that’s come under fire by Dom DeLuise, who opposes the outfit on moral grounds.

Parton stars opposite Burt Reynolds, the county sheriff. The pair are in love, but Mona worries how their relationship would affect his public standing.

Unsurprisingly, given her love of reading and literacy outreach efforts, Parton even co-wrote a book with James Patterson, “Run, Rose, Run,” that was set to be adapted by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. It’s unclear what the status of the adaptation will be now that Parton has passed—she was set to star in the film.