Dolly Parton Movies Ranked by Tomatometer
There are only a handful of celebrities so beloved by the general public that they transcend all boundaries, and Dolly Parton was arguably the most beloved of them all. The country music legend and American icon was not only an accomplished singer-songwriter but also a celebrated philanthropist and talented actress, parlaying her multiple Grammy-winning music career into a life of humanitarian work and several notable appearances in film and television.
Parton made her TV debut in the 1960s and 1970s on variety shows, doing what she does best: performing music. On 1978’s Cher… Special, a TV special centered on the titular singer-actress, Parton’s performance earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program. She would go on to earn three more nominations for her work on her own TV movies, finally winning one in 2021 for Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square.
Her feature film debut came in 1980’s 9 to 5, a workplace comedy in which she starred opposite Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as a secretary who plots with her peers to bring down their company’s sexist vice president. Not only was it a breakout role for Parton, but it garnered her widespread awards attention, including a Golden Globe nod for Best Motion Picture Actress – Musical/Comedy and both Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for her song “9 to 5”, which went on to win two Grammys.
Parton went on to have memorable roles 1982’s The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, 1989’s Steel Magnolias, and 1992’s Straight Talk, with plenty of cameos and personal appearances across film and TV, from Miss Congeniality 2 to The Simpsons. She played longtime family friend Aunt Dolly in three episodes of Hannah Montana, guest-starred on Seth McFarlane’s The Orville as a simulation of herself, and played small roles in episodes of Reba, The Magic School Bus, and Grace & Frankie, the latter of which reunited her with her 9 to 5 co-stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
Sadly, Parton passed away after a “brief battle with cancer” on August 25, 2026 at the age of 80, just months after health concerns in late 2025 led to the cancellation of a December residency in Las Vegas. And while she will be best remembered for her staggering body of work in music, she also turned in awards-worthy performances on both the big screen and television. We celebrate the life of Dolly Parton by looking back at all of her movies ranked by Tomatometer.
Dolly Parton Movies
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