9 Must-See Dolly Parton Movies, For the Seasoned Fan or the Newbie

Dolly made her cinematic mark in a big way in her first movie. In this delightful comedy, she and costars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin play three put-upon employees who turn the tables on their misogynistic boss (Dabney Coleman). Sure, the movie screams "early 1980s," but it's still a ton of fun. Plus, Parton, Fonda, and Tomlin have remained friends in real life, which is awesome.

This screen adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical stars Parton as the madame of a Texas brothel who is sleeping with the local sheriff (Burt Reynolds). It earned Dolly a Golden Globe nomination, plus one for the movie itself (and an Oscar nom for Charles Durning as the governor of Texas — back when comedies could actually get nominated for Oscars).

This made-for-TV movie is a holiday classic — a Hallmark-esque Christmas movie long before there even was a Hallmark channel. In it, Parton plays Lorna Davis, a disillusioned country music superstar who goes to her friend's cabin for a holiday vacation, only to discover seven orphans living there. She becomes the Snow White to their seven "dwarves," complete with an evil mountain "witch woman" who tries to poison Lorna with an apple pie. Yes, really. Spoiler alert: she eventually gets custody of the orphans and it's a very merry Christmas all around.

Sure, sure, this movie really belongs to Sally Field and Julia Roberts as mother and daughter. But the supporting cast is top-notch: Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Tom Skerritt, Sam Shepard, and Dylan McDermott. Parton is particularly winsome as a local beautician and busybody. If you've never seen it, no spoilers here, but be warned to bring a box of tissues.

In this '90s romantic comedy, Parton plays Shirlee Kenyon, an Arkansas dance teacher who leaves her loser boyfriend to strike out on her own in Chicago. Through a series of typical rom-com mishaps, she gets a job as a radio therapist and begins dating a local reporter who is investigating her because he doesn't believe she's actually a doctor (she's not; the radio station is making her pretend to be "Doctor Shirlee"). Eventually all the misunderstandings are resolved and everyone lives happily ever after (except her loser boyfriend, of course).

Parton has done a number of made-for-TV movies, but don't let the format dissuade you from tracking them down. This one is another holiday offering wherein Parton plays a country music superstar who dies suddenly but can't get into heaven until she does some good deeds back on Earth. If you like the gist of A Christmas Carol but want something a little different than the typical Ebeneezer Scrooge story, this is the film for you.

This Lifetime movie stars Parton as (what else?) a country singer who overcomes her troubled, abusive past with the help of her handsome guitarist (Billy Dean). No, it's not a great film, but it features no less than eight performances or original musical cues by Parton, so it is chock full of great music, including a beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace."

A few years ago, NBC got in on the Dolly craze with two heartwarming films based on Parton's childhood, with Alyvia Alyn Lind turning in two great performances as young Dolly. Parton does not actually act in the first film but does serve as the narrator, and it lays the groundwork for the follow-up film in which Parton does appear.

This is another one where you should have the tissues handy because the jumping-off point of the story is the premature birth and subsequent death of Dolly's baby brother, whose baby blankets her mama (Jennifer Nettles) turned into a patchwork coat for young Dolly. Seriously, are you crying yet?

Young Dolly loves that coat until she has to deal with school bullies teasing her about it because her family is so poor, all the while trying to keep her family together because everyone is struggling after the baby's death. It ends on an uplifting note, but it is quite the heartwrencher before then.

This Coat of Many Colors sequel continues telling the story of young Dolly (Lind reprises the role) as she realizes she might be talented enough to pursue music beyond her rural Tennessee upbringing. This one will also bring on the waterworks, as the Parton children sacrifice their Christmas presents to get their mama something special and an unexpected blizzard threatens the family's welfare. But it is much less devastating than its predecessor.