Dolly Parton plays her nails, talks about acting debut in '81 interview | KCRA Entertainment Archives
Dolly Parton discussed her journey from country music to Hollywood in a 1981 interview about "9 to 5."
Updated: 6:38 AM PST Jan 8, 2025
Well as you know, on the weeknight show, we're continually looking for new talent and you've probably seen me around the bars in Sacramento saying any young talent in here? Well, I found someone here in Dallas and look at this. You are now viewing the newest instrument on the market. You know what she's playing her fingernails in case you're going to hear what's going on. I bet you, Jane and Lily told you about my nails because when I was doing the, the 9 to 5, I was on the set when I was writing the song just to get the rhythm. When I wasn't close to my guitar, I would do working 9 to 5. What *** way to make *** living? Barely. So it worked out good. So now I've become famous for these nails. Listen, you, I couldn't talk with them. *** lot of people think you're ***, you're an overnight success. But you know, you've been around for years, but it's the image really. That is an overnight success. Is it not, didn't you create this image with the fancy clothes and the hair? And yeah, but I've been uh looking like this for *** long, long time with the big hair and the makeup and the clothes. I actually started, uh, on radio and television in East Tennessee when I was 10 years old and I wouldn't take trips back and forth to Knoxville. And I moved to Nashville in 1964. And, uh, went to work with the, well, I had *** couple of chart records on Monument records and then I went to work with the Porta Waggoner show. There was *** famous country, uh syndicated show and stayed with them for seven years. And that was my first big break and had *** lot of uh big country hits and then made *** crossover kind to expand. And now it kind of led to all of this, you know, you're accepted by *** popular world too. But here I come again, that's my audition. How did the country, uh western folks, the purists who feel about that? They feel like you should be singing in Red River Valley all the time. San Antonio Rosie. Well, uh you'd be right. Uh But, you know, when I first made the crossover, I think *** lot of people were *** little bit uncomfortable, afraid I wanted to think that the fans that did have something to say about it that they were afraid that I might mess up. I wanted to think they cared enough to worry about uh my well being and I think that it took *** little while to see that I wasn't trying to leave the country music that I was trying to make *** place in the other worlds of music to where I could represent country music in fine fashion to where it would mean something and, and have the prestige and, and all that. So, uh I never changed as *** person and I think they learned real quick about that. So uh I'm really happy to see too that uh country music is really getting really hot and getting the recognition that it deserves these days. And you really made *** place for yourself too because you're *** big hit in 9 to 5, by the way. Really great. Thank you. And you've never acted before. Is this your first shot at solid tear wrenching drama? Is it really? Yeah, this, I've never even seen *** movie made. I've done *** lot of television but not uh not acting. Uh But they say that entertaining in itself is *** form of, of acting and, and when you sing, when you're an emotional singer, you, you know, the dynamics are very much the same, the emotion and stuff in, in enacted. So it wasn't like *** real hard thing to do. It was just ***, *** real difference. Yeah, I ain't the brightest person you ever seen sometimes and I just assumed that they uh um shot it like *** play that you would, you know, you knew lines and you knew everybody else's lines. So, you know, what lines to play off of. So I memorized the whole script and just thought that they started like *** play and then they'd stop at the end of the day or whatever and, you know, pick up the next day. But it wasn't like that at all, but it did work out real well, that I memorized the script because I could help other people with their lines and I didn't have to study for mine. Well, now that you're, now that you're *** real pro, you're gonna be ***, it ain't out yet. Now you're just partial. We gotta wait and let the fans decide out. I mean, you, no, excellent comedy timing is really good. Thank you. I had *** good time doing it. I just hope that the good time we had came across on the screen and the kind of friends that we became, I think that, you know, that was real important and if that showed on the screen, I think it's, that'll be *** special and now you're moving on to Burt Reynolds. *** Yeah, I, I mean, I love making 9 to 5 with Lily and Janet was all well and good and sweet. But now I've been dying to make this movie with Burt Reynolds because uh he's, he's wonderful. I just love him and, and this story that we're gonna do is the best little *** in Texas, which is *** musical comedy. And uh he's the sheriff and I'm the madam and we're supposed to be in love. So they're writing it into more of like *** love story than the play actually was. Although they'll keep all the wonderful parts of the play and most of the parts were wonderful. It's *** great story. I love it. And, um, so I'm dying to do that. We'll do that in Austin, Texas on location. Most of them, you gonna write the theme music for that too? Well, uh, there's some mighty, uh good music already in it and I don't know if I'll be replacing the music. I'm gonna write some, but I think it probably be additional songs, you know, since it's gonna be *** movie, it'll be somebody come up to you and say, why don't you write the theme for *** 9 to 5 or did you say I have an idea? Why don't you let me do it or because you were in it or? Well, uh, that was part of the deal made up front because I didn't want to be in the movie for the sake of doing the movies. I mean, I wanted it to be an outlet for my music because I mean, I wasn't real sure whether or not I even want to stay in the movies or not, but I didn't want to do something that wouldn't, uh you know, where my music wouldn't have *** shot at it. So I was, uh real fortunate that I got the chance to do that, but that was part of our contract. Ok. Well, thank you very much. Thank you very much. I'll see you somewhere else. Come back *** second. What did you get the key to the city there? Yeah, I still got it so I may come open your door one of these days.
Dolly Parton plays her nails, talks about acting debut in '81 interview | KCRA Entertainment Archives
Dolly Parton discussed her journey from country music to Hollywood in a 1981 interview about "9 to 5."
Updated: 6:38 AM PST Jan 8, 2025
In an extended 1981 interview, Dolly Parton opened up about her transition from country music to Hollywood stardom. She also demonstrated how she used her fingernails to help set a rhythm while working on "9 to 5." Known for her signature style, Parton revealed how she began her career in Tennessee before moving to Nashville in 1964. "I've been looking like this for a long, long time," she said, discussing her iconic image. Her acting debut in "9 to 5" marked a new chapter, showcasing her comedic talents alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Parton also shared her excitement about an upcoming musical comedy with Burt Reynolds, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." WATCH the full interview in the video above.During his legendary, decades-long career with KCRA 3, Harry Martin directed and hosted the children’s show “Captain Sacto.” Martin went on to host “Martin at the Movies” and “ShowBiz,” where he was able to tell the stories of countless actors, singers, politicians and athletes.
In an extended 1981 interview, Dolly Parton opened up about her transition from country music to Hollywood stardom.
She also demonstrated how she used her fingernails to help set a rhythm while working on "9 to 5."
Known for her signature style, Parton revealed how she began her career in Tennessee before moving to Nashville in 1964. "I've been looking like this for a long, long time," she said, discussing her iconic image.
Her acting debut in "9 to 5" marked a new chapter, showcasing her comedic talents alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Parton also shared her excitement about an upcoming musical comedy with Burt Reynolds, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."
WATCH the full interview in the video above.
During his legendary, decades-long career with KCRA 3, Harry Martin directed and hosted the children’s show “Captain Sacto.” Martin went on to host “Martin at the Movies” and “ShowBiz,” where he was able to tell the stories of countless actors, singers, politicians and athletes.