For quite some time now, Miley Cyrus has been teasing a return as Hannah Montana to celebrate the Disney Channel show’s 20th anniversary. Now, it’s officially happening on the 2026 TV schedule. According to the singer, we have a habit she picked up from Dolly Parton to partially thank for The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.

If you grew up a Disney Channel kid, the nostalgia for shows like Hannah Montana is real. So, when Cyrus started dropping hints that she might be planning something for the project’s anniversary, I hung on to every word. It turns out that teasing was all part of the plan to get this thing greenlighted. And that strategy was one she picked up from her godmother, Dolly Parton, as she told Variety:

Well, I’m happy she essentially manifested and promoted this into existence. It’s also wild to think that the “Wrecking Ball” singer needed to do this to get it made.

However, Cyrus explained that she actually thinks Disney sometimes forgets she is Hannah Montana. However, the singer is very aware of the impact the Disney Channel character still has on people, as she explained:

So, knowing all that, she started doing the work. She began talking about this special (even though it didn’t exist). And then, as she did that, she made sure that Disney knew about the hype that was being created around her statements. In fact, as fans started getting excited, Cyrus started sending their reactions to Disney, telling them:

It’s certainly poised to be huge, too. Personally, I’ve been counting down the days to streaming the Hannah Montana anniversary with my Disney+ subscription, and it’s been a significant point of conversation among my friends.

Now, we can thank the woman behind the titular character for hyping us all up about it. I write that because Disney exec Charlie Andrews literally said that when it comes to this upcoming special, Miley Cyrus “willed it into existence.”

With that in mind, let’s all thank Miley Cyrus for making this happen. However, let’s also thank Dolly Parton, Cyrus’s occasional collaborator and godmother, for teaching her a valuable lesson: If you want something to happen, you have to make people aware of it. And that’s exactly what the “Flowers” singer did here.

Now, on March 24, we’ll be able to stream The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special on Disney+, and it’s all because Miley Cyrus was determined to get it made and started talking about it well before it ever actually existed.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage is zooming through Season 2, and with a Christmas episode on the way to close out the 2025 TV schedule, it's time to look ahead to the new year. New episodes in 2026 present new opportunities for guest stars, and Emily Osment has the perfect person in mind. She wants Dolly Parton on the CBS sitcom, and already has an idea of who the country music legend could play.

Osment spoke to Us Weekly about possible characters that would be a good fit for the show, and she wasted no time in laying out her and the cast's big pick for a guest star. As mentioned, she wants Parton to appear on the show, and put that thought out into the universe:

Emily Osment said "we," implying she's far from the only cast and crew member who wants Dolly Parton on Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, and I'm apt to believe her. In fact, Montana Jordan mentioned the country star earlier this year when asked the same question. I guess she has a lot of fans on the show, if not worldwide.

Given the 90s setting of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage and how it kept other celebrities playing themselves like Jay Leno and Dr. Demento largely unseen for their appearances, I don't imagine Parton would play herself in the show. Osment confirmed there's one character she's always wondered about, and it sounds like she's hoping to see Dolly Parton take that role:

As a fan of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, it would be interesting to see Dolly Parton play Audrey McAllister's mother. I'm not sure I see her being the mother of that particular character, who is often known to be snippy and a bit conniving. Maybe if the joke is that she's so much more pleasant than Audrey is, I'd understand and approve!

Emily Osment also noted that working with Parton would be a reunion of sorts, as she worked with the musician when she was younger on Hannah Montana. While people tend to remember that Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus have a strong relationship, readers might forget that Osment was on that show as well:

It would be really cool to see Dolly Parton on Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, but one wonders whether she'd be available. Parton has had some health struggles in 2025, and while her sister had fans scared about the icon, her team assured the kidney stone procedure was not a significant cause for concern.

That said, Parton hasn't appeared on a television show since 2023, when she paid tribute to the late actor Leslie Jordan in an episode of Call Me Kat. I don't think it's out of the question that she'd sign on for an episode of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, but it does seem to have been a while since she's done anything that isn't a music video. That said, I'd love to see it happen if she's up for it, and think it would be an excellent get for the CBS sitcom.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage airs on CBS on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 2 has been such a joy to watch thus far. I can't wait to see what the new episodes bring in 2026 and beyond.

Recently, Dolly Parton had to postpone her Las Vegas residency because of health challenges. Not long after that, her sister, Freida Parton, took to Facebook to ask for prayers and support for the great country singer and actress. As more people saw the post, worry sparked among fans. However, now both her sister and her representative are clearing the air about the situation.

What Dolly Parton’s Sister Said That Worried Fans

A day ago, Dolly’s sister, Freida, took to Facebook to post a photo of her sibling alongside a message about how she had been “up all night praying” for her. She addressed Dolly’s health challenges and asked those who support the singer to be “prayer warriors” with her:

This post concerned fans, and they were anxious about the 79-year-old singer and her health. However, now both her rep and her sister have cleared the air.

How Dolly Parton’s Rep Responded

Not long after this post went up, Dolly’s rep, Olly Rowland, spoke to The Las Vegas Review-Journal and explained that she has had to have a procedure. However, this whole situation had been “blown out of proportion.” The statement read:

It’s worth noting that a week ago, when Parton posted on Instagram about postponing her shows, she did explain that she had to have “a few procedures.” She explained that because of this, she wouldn’t be able to rehearse and couldn’t build the show she thought fans deserved.

However, this artist, who has worked with Sabrina Carpenter (and discussed their similarities) and been inducted into The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame in the last year, made it clear she’d still be working from her home.

Dolly Parton’s Sister Ultimately Cleared The Air After Her Post Went Viral

Now, along with the “9 to 5” singer’s rep clarifying the situation here, her sister also got back on social media to clear the air. Parton’s sisters have a history of being vocal about their sibling, and in this case, Freida explained in a follow-up Facebook post that all she wanted to do in the original message was ask for support. She wasn’t trying to imply that Dolly was doing worse than we thought. She wrote:

Much like how Dolly reportedly supported Kelly Clarkson earlier this year when her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, passed away and she postponed shows, it seems like that’s exactly what her sister was doing here. However, as the rep explained, it kind of got blown out of proportion.

Have no fear, though; the air has been cleared, Dolly is OK, and she is working through her health challenges at the moment.

One generally accepted truth of life that this is Dolly Parton’s world, and the rest of us are just living in it. You would be hard-pressed to find people walking the Earth today who don’t know who Dolly Parton is, and it would be even harder to find people who know her and don’t love her. Parton always has kind words for others, and has backed those up by using her fame and fortune to do more good deeds than it's possible to catalogue quickly. As such, she has also received numerous honors.

The hilariously self-deprecating icon is a member of numerous Hall of Fames. She’s been in the Country Music Hall of Fame since 1986 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame since 2001. She even joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2023, an honor she reportedly turned down multiple times before finally accepting. But now her name will be in a very different Hall of Fame, one completely unrelated to her normal profession, but one that is still well deserved.

Dolly Parton is Joining The IAAPA Hall Of Fame

Unless you are, like me, somebody who lives and breathes the world of the theme park industry, then you are almost certainly unfamiliar with IAAPA. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions is the trade organization for the industry that includes theme parks, amusement parks, zoos, museums, and more. Like many organizations, it has a Hall of Fame to recognize the people who have made lasting contributions to the profession.

There are people in the Hall of Fame that you would fully expect to see, like Walt Disney and his brother Roy, or Walter Knott, who founded Knott’s Berry Farm. Dolly Parton might not be the first person you would think of for inclusion alongside those names, but of course, she absolutely belongs, as her name graces one of the best theme parks in the country.

Dollywood Is As Iconic As Dolly Parton Herself

Back in 1986, Dolly Parton partnered with Herschend Family Entertainment to transform the second Silver Dollar City theme park into Dollywood. Since then, the park has ballooned in size, added resort hotels, and has become a major destination for Dolly Parton fans and theme park fans alike.

Dollywood isn’t simply a theme park with Dolly’s name on it. It includes numerous attractions that are specifically focused on her life and career. You can walk through a replica of the two-room cabin that she grew up in, and visit the recently opened Dolly Parton Experience, which includes a museum with memorabilia spanning her career. Dollywood also has incredible food, including an amazing, though admittedly very expensive, pie.

Dolly Parton frequently appears at Dollywood when it opens for the season and when new attractions open. The park also gives back to its employees, as Dollywood has covered college tuition for the people who work there since 2022. She’s clearly as invested in the park as she is in other parts of her career.

As somebody who has been to Dollywood and feels the need to go back again soon, I think it’s fantastic that Dolly Parton is being honored in this way. As in all other areas of life that she touches, she’s made the theme park industry better for being part of it. The IAAPA Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on November 17 as part of the organization’s annual convention in Orlando.

Miley Cyrus is at the top of her game. On the heels of a Grammy win for her anthemic song, “Flowers,” the singer/songwriter recently released her ninth studio album, Something Beautiful, which centers themes surrounding her healing journey from some of her darkest moments in her life. The album feels like a marker for Cyrus, as she begins the next new phase of her career in a reflexive way. Now, she's opening up why she's not venturing off into side businesses like Selena Gomez and Dolly Parton have.

The 32-year-old pop singer recently appeared on the New York Times-produced podcast, The Interview. During the discussion, Cyrus chatted about the different phases she has gone through in her music as well as how stardom and fame have impacted her writing. She also talked about why she has chosen to focus on music as opposed to business ventures like a clothing line or a makeup brand. Based on the comments Cyrus shared about a cosmetics brand, she just doesn't seem so enthused:

Makeup lines have certainly been huge business ventures for many popstars, and some have become incredibly wealthy because of them. Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez all have brands that have become very successful. Even Fenty Beauty has pushed Rihanna to billionaire status, despite the singer not having released an album in almost a decade. However lucrative a beauty company is, though, Miley Cyrus still seems to have no interest. Still, Cyrus does respect artists who dabble in business, like her godmother Dolly Parton:

While Cyrus may not have any external careers ventures she's invested time into, it’s important to note that she has also had a successful acting career outside of her music. She started as the lead of the Disney Channel show, Hannah Montana, and has since taken on roles in movies and TV shows like Black Mirror and The Last Song. However, in recent years Cyrus has definitely made music her main focus, and it seems to be what she's most passionate about.

The "Midnight Sky" performer isn’t the only one who's decided to focus on music. Fellow pop princess Taylor Swift also has centered music and, at present, Swift holds billionaire status. Artists like Adele, Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber have also done well in that regard.

While I love a multi-faceted creative person, I think there is something truly authentic about Miley Cyrus’ perspective and her aim to only focus on what makes her passionate and happy. To me, her music ultimately feels so personal, and she has seemingly connects with fans on a deep level across her various eras. So, if her career is in a good place, there may be no real need to change But make no mistake, I won't criticize Cyrus if she opts to release skincare line or fragrance.

Check out Miley Cyrus' Something Beautiful, which is currently able to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. Fans can also see Cyrus’ visual accompaniment to the album, also titled Something Beautiful, as it is now streaming with a Hulu subscription.

We finally have confirmation from Kelly Clarkson herself regarding what’s been going on behind the scenes of her talk show — where she missed several tapings earlier on the 2025 TV schedule — and her Las Vegas residency, which saw some dates canceled just hours before she was supposed to take the stage. Unfortunately, the news comes as the singer postponed more concerts, and she’s getting support from celebrities like Debbie Gibson and Dolly Parton.

Kelly Clarkson Postpones Remaining Concert Dates Amid Ex-Husband’s Illness

Fans who were planning to travel to Las Vegas for Kelly Clarkson’s Studio Sessions this month are likely severely disappointed to see the singer’s heartbreaking update. She announced via Instagram that due to her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock’s health issues, she will be postponing her remaining August dates. She wrote:

Rumors had circulated that Brandon Blackstock — who was married to Kelly Clarkson for seven years before she filed for divorce in 2020 — was ill and that the Chemistry artist had missed tapings of The Kelly Clarkson Show to take their two children to visit him. Until now, however, she hadn’t spoken out about what was going on, with official word being that she was dealing with a “private matter.”

When the first two dates of her Vegas Studio Sessions were canceled, it was said that her intense preparation for the residency had taken a toll on her voice, but sources alleged that there were other factors that played into her decision.

How Debbie Gibson And Dolly Parton Are Supporting Kelly Clarkson

It’s terrible to hear that Kelly Clarkson’s family is dealing with illness in this way, and despite all the legal battles and contention that she and Brandon Blackstock have faced in the past five years, she’s always said she will prioritize her children’s needs.

While I’m sure it’s safe to say many fans are upset, it seems like Kelly Clarkson has the support of her Hollywood peers. Debbie Gibson, for one, validated the “Since U Been Gone” singer’s choice to be with her family, commenting on the post:

Rita Wilson also sent her well-wishes, writing:

Dolly Parton also has reportedly been “very worried” about Kelly Clarkson after allegedly hearing from mutual friends that the singer was “acting erratic and weepy.” She even reportedly offered Clarkson some “country comforting” and asked her to visit her Tennessee home. A source previously said:

It’s simply heartbreaking for all involved that Kelly Clarkson had to postpone her residency tour dates amid Brandon Blackstock’s illness. I’m sure the immediate future is up in the air for her as she focuses on her children’s needs, but amid concerns that she could be leaving her talk show, sources allege she “might need a shift.”

This news also comes amid alleged concerns that she’s spreading herself too thin. Kelly Clarkson is set to return as a coach on The Voice, as she’ll appear alongside Adam Levine and John Legend in February 2026 for Season 29’s revamped The Voice: Battle of Champions. Filming is already underway on that, so we’ll have to see if it, too, is affected during these tough times for her family.

It’s a busy time for Kelly Clarkson, as her Las Vegas residency is underway and a seventh season of The Kelly Clarkson Show set to premiere on the 2025 TV schedule this fall. On the surface it looks like everything’s going great, but the singer appears to be having problems behind the scenes. Canceled concerts and unexplained absences from her talk show have people worried — including Dolly Parton. In fact, the country music legend reportedly wants to help Clarkson in an appropriately “country” way.

Fans and employees alike were allegedly put off by the “utterly disrespectful” last-minute cancellation of the first two scheduled shows of her residency earlier this month, and that’s only the latest sign that Kelly Clarkson may be going through something. According to a source for Star, Dolly Parton is determined to “get to the bottom of what’s wrong.” The insider said:

Man, it must be nice to have Dolly Parton in your corner when you’re “in a bad place,” as the insider suggests Kelly Clarkson is. The “9 to 5” singer is reportedly “very worried” about the American Idol alum, as she is allegedly struggling to balance her fame, career and personal life.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member has an idea of what Kelly Clarkson needs, the insider claims, as Dolly Parton apparently has invited her friend to get out of the city (both Las Vegas and New York) and visit her farm in Tennessee. The source explained:

I’m not sure what all “country comforting” includes, but I have to imagine good food and a strong beverage are involved. Either way, I can’t think of many people more qualified than Dolly Parton to offer advice and encouragement to the beloved talk show host.

Some have suggested that Kelly Clarkson may be looking at a shift in her career as she’s been “stretching herself too thin,” the Star source said. Rumors have swirled that the former coach of The Voice may be ready to leave TV, despite The Kelly Clarkson Show earning 11 Emmy Awards in its first five seasons.

There’s also been speculation about her health — she’s opened up about having thyroid problems — or the health of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, as one rumor suggested she missed some tapings of her talk show to take her two children to visit their ailing father. Kelly Clarkson has not confirmed any of the speculation about what “private matter” she’s dealing with.

Perhaps Kelly Clarkson will confide in Dolly Parton — if the “Jolene” singer doesn’t already know. Parton allegedly really hopes that the “Behind These Hazel Eyes” singer will take her up on her very country offer, “because this can’t go on,” according to the source.

When it comes to iconic female musicians, Dolly Parton is undeniably one of the biggest names in the game. The country star’s still-expanding catalog has inspired countless artists such as goddaughter Miley Cyrus and Grammy winner Beyoncé. Yet for as standalone a career blueprint as Parton crafted for herself, I was surprised to hear the legend comparing her past to Sabrina Carpenter’s current trailblazing career path, but it makes a lot of sense.

While the two weren't part of the 2025 TV schedule or co-starring in any big-screen features, the duo still made a splash as the 79-year-old joined Carpenter on the deluxe version of Short n’ Sweet for the hit ‘Please Please Please.’ Ahead of her new album Man’s Best Friend taking the Internet by storm, she stripped down for the cover of Rolling Stone for an article that included a small spot from Parton.

The theme park inspiration shared the following about her latest collaborator, pointing out that the two artists probably have more in common than differences.

While I’m making a mental note of re-streaming their duet ASAP, I know both have dynamic pop-country ranges. Meanwhile, looking at young pictures of the ‘9 to 5’ singer after learning of the comparison is wild. Even though they aren’t full on twins or anything, vintage Parton and present Carpenter really do mirror the other well. Not to mention, both are wildly ambitious and carving out a path that is uniquely theirs.

The ‘Espresso’ singer agreed that the likeness between her and the ‘Islands in the Stream’ performer hit a little different outside of the normal bounds. In Carpenter’s words, she equated it to seeing a future version of herself:

With both celebs shedding light on their kindred vibes and familial looks, it makes me think of what more they share. Of course, they are wildly popular musicians who can also act–Steel Magnolias, 9 to 5, Girl Meets World and Tall Girl to name drop just a few titles for each star. But also has faced their fair share of career challenges that relate to gender, most recently the teased image that followed Carpenter’s single,‘Manchild’ releasing.

Needless to say, the ‘little women, doing big things,’ aka Dolly Parton and Sabrina Carpenter similarities are more intertwined in my head now than ever. It does make me wonder if and when the continuing rising singer’s catalog will be covered by future talent a la Beyoncé's cover of Jolene. Or if she’ll be a north star to the next generation and collaborate with them like Parton joined Miley Cyrus’ ‘Wrecking Ball’ and ‘Please Please Please.’ Fingers are crossed over here.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage is in the back half of Season 1, and while the finale could bring in a new character that stirs up trouble for the married couple, Montana Jordan is making mental plans regarding Mandy's future family members whom Georgie could interact with in the future. The actor gave an A+ pitch for how country legend Dolly Parton could feasibly appear down the line, and I can only hope nobody named Jolene tries to squash this idea.

Jordan and Emily Osment stopped by The Jennifer Hudson Show and talked about their hit comedy, which was recently renewed for Season 2 on CBS. (Fans can stream all the current episodes anytime with a Paramount+ subscription.) When Hudson asked the duo who their dream guest star would be, the Georgie actor revealed his grand idea to sway the iconic songstress to the sitcom. As he put it:

Dolly Parton in Southern Grandma mode is a pretty great scenario in any capacity, and as Jennifer Hudson pointed out, it'd make for a reunion between Dolly Parton and Emily Osment. Parton was a guest star on three episodes of Hannah Montana, all of which are available to stream with a Disney+ subscription. But would the country icon specifically be a good fit to play Mandy's meemaw?

I have my reservations, especially since the show is rooted in reality, and Dolly Parton is presumably just as beloved in this universe as any other. But that could easily be explained away. And after hearing Jordan's idealized scene for Parton, I can certainly see the appeal in her playing Mandy's grandma.

I would love it if Mandy's grandma was somehow tied up in Connie's new hustle as a bookie and the drama that would unfold with that. All of that said, Parton's natural southern accent is a good deal thicker than anyone in the McAllister family in Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, so viewers might have trouble seeing her as someone related to Mandy and her parents.

I think another possible way for Dolly Parton to appear would be via Mandy's brother Connor, who has already shown he's someone who has connections. He is friends with Jay Leno, and given his musical talents, it wouldn't be hard to believe he also knew Parton. One barrier would be making Parton look the same as she did three decades ago in the sitcom, so maybe Montana Jordan was onto something by making her a different character.

Regardless of how it happens, I hope for more guest stars on Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage before the couple splits. The reasons for them to go their separate ways are piling up, but they keep finding ways to work through their issues. We may have a good stretch of time before they finally split up, but we can only wait and see.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage airs on CBS on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 1 is still going strong in April, but the season finale is coming up in May, so be sure to catch up!

One of the greatest honors a public figure can achieve is to either host Saturday Night Live or appear as a musical guest but how many people can say that they accomplished both in one night? Quite a few, actually. See for yourself by taking a look at some great SNL hosts who also put on memorable musical performances at Studio 8H in the same episode (or episodes).

Timothée Chalamet

After receiving a 2025 Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet paid tribute to the folk singer in an amusing way. The actor appeared on SNL's 50th season for his third time as host but his first time as a musical guest, performing covers of Dylan's “Outlaw Blues," “Three Angels,” and "Tomorrow Is a Long Time.”

Lady Gaga

In 2013, years before proving she was a phenomenal actor with a Golden Globe-winning performance on American Horror Story and an Oscar-nominated performance in A Star is Born, Lady Gaga pulled double duty at Studio 8H. In addition to her earnest performances of "Do What U Want" and "Gypsy," the pop star (née Stefani Germanotta) appeared in some of the best SNL sketches featuring a famous musician, which were made classic by her willingness to poke fun at herself.

Mick Jagger

After previously hosting and performing alongside his bandmates in The Rolling Stones in 1972, Mick Jagger would return to SNL to headline the 37th season finale on his own. For his performances of classic tracks like "The Last Time" and "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)," the legendary frontman was accompanied by Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters, and Jeff Beck.

Donald Glover

Donald Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino) opened his Season 43 SNL episode by singing about his ability to do "anything" in jest but was still able to back up that claim quite sufficiently with his hilarious acting and memorable musical performances. In fact, the episode famously marked the debut of the Atlanta star's hit single, "This is America."

Stevie Wonder

The most memorable highlight from Stevie Wonder's Season 8 SNL episode is when he appeared in a sketch alongside Eddie Murphy (who had portrayed the musician a few times before) as an aspiring Stevie Wonder impersonator seeking his help to perfect his impression. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter also performed "Overjoyed" that night "Go Home."

Ariana Grande

For her second appearance on SNL in Season 41, Ariana Grande pulled double duty in more than one way. In addition to performing "Dangerous Woman" and "Be Alright" between sketches, one bit saw her demonstrate her impeccable ability for musical impersonations as a Tidal intern who must help when the music streaming platform loses power.

Elton John

Elton John first appeared on SNL as a musical guest on an episode hosted by fellow musician Johnny Cash in 1982 before returning 29 years later to both host and perform songs with Leon Russell from their album, The Union. In addition to the Grammy-winning headliner, it was a pretty star-studded night at Studio 8H, with cameos by Carmelo Anthony, Will Forte, Tom Hanks and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Miley Cyrus

Twice, Miley Cyrus got to be the best of both worlds on SNL. In Season 39, she poked fun at her VMAs performance with Robin Thicke and sang "Wrecking Ball" and "We Can't Stop" and, two years later, was joined by The Flaming Lips" to perform "Karen Don't Be Sad" after an introduction by special guest Hillary Clinton.

Justin Timberlake

Qualified to join SNL's Five-Timers Club both for his hosting and musical performances is Justin Timberlake, who debuted on the show with N*SYNC before pulling double duty for the first of multiple times on October 11, 2003. The pop star and actor has contributed to some of the show's most iconic musical sketches, including three awesome SNL Digital Shorts alongside Andy Samberg as a crass R&B duo.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has appeared at Studio 8H multiple times, acquiring a number of musical guest gigs and a few jaw-dropping SNL cameos under her belt, since becoming one of the most famous people in the world. In Season 35, she showed up for the second time as a musical guest (singing "You Belong With Me" and "Untouchable") and the first time as a host, appearing in a funny fake trailer for a Twilight rip-off called Firelight, among other sketches.

Paul Simon

No one has appeared on SNL as both the host and musical guest more times than Paul Simon, who also became the first to pull double duty on the show's second episode ever before coming back to do it three more times. The singer-songwriter was also the first person to join the Five-Timers Club by musical performances alone.

Chance The Rapper

In addition to being one of the most innovative hip-hop artists of his time, Chance the Rapper proved that he can act and has some impeccable comedic timing the multiple times he has hosted SNL. The second time, in Season 45, he also served as the musical guest and was joined by Megan Thee Stallion for a performance of "Handsome."

Kris Kristofferson

In July 1976, months before leading A Star is Born with Barbra Streisand, singer and actor Kris Kristofferson both sang and acted as an SNL headliner. He was joined by his then-wife Rita Coolidge for "Eddie the Eunuch" and later performed "I've Got a Life of My Own" on his own.

Debbie Harry

The frontwoman for Blondie performed solo on the Valentine's Day episode of SNL's sixth season, which she also hosted. Between sketches, Debbie Harry sang "Love TKO" and "Come Back Jonee" before introducing additional musical guest Funky 4 + 1's "That's The Joint," which became the first rap song performed on television that night.

Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks first served as both host and musical guest on SNL in the show's 23rd season, during which he appeared in sketch where he falls for Chris Kattan's Mango. The country music singer returned to pull double duty a year later but performed his musical numbers as his rock star alter ego, Chris Gaines.

Dolly Parton

For her sole SNL appearance, Dolly Parton hosted and sang in Season 14. The country music legend appeared in multiple comedic bits poking fun at her chest size and performed a couple of tracks from her 1989 album, White Limozeen.

Willie Nelson

February 21, 1987, marked Willie Nelson's second SNL appearance as a musical guest and sole hosting appearance. The influential "outlaw country" legend, who had done some acting before and has acted plenty of times since, was a great fit for the gig and even performed a song with then-cast member Victoria Jackson.

Drake

Before he became one of the most successful rap artists of his time, Drake (née Aubrey Graham) was an actor, best known for his starring role on the Canadian coming-of-age drama, Degrassi: The Next Generation. He reminded audiences that his acting talents have not waned when, after performing as a musical guest in 2011, he returned to SNL to serve double duty in 2014 and again two years later.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish became the first person born in the 21st Century to host SNL when she appeared in the Season 47 Christmas episode, which was met with much acclaim despite her not being able to stop laughing in a few sketches. The Grammy and Oscar winner's parents introduced her and her brother Finneas' performance of "Happier Than Ever" before they later returned to perform "Male Fantasy."

Halsey

Before lending her voice to Sing 2 and appearing in the A24 horror movie MaXXXine, Halsey was considered a non-actor who nailed her SNL hosting gig from Season 44. The self-professed fan of the show was a hilarious standout in sketches and also wowed audiences with her musical performances, such as when she painted a full portrait while singing "Eastside."

Ray Charles

Before making a cameo in, arguably, the best movie based on an SNL character, 1980's The Blues Brothers, Ray Charles headlined the fifth episode of the show's third season. The influential musical genius was surprisingly good and sketches and unsurprisingly shined with his performances of "I Can See Clearly Now," "What I'd Say," "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning," and "I Can't Stop Loving You."

Olivia Newton-John

Having gained international fame from playing Sandy in Grease, there was no question that Olivia Newton-John would be a great fit on SNL as both a host and musical guest. The Australian singer and actor actually appeared in a parody of the 1978 musical movie classic when she took the stage for the Season 7 finale, during which she also performed songs from her hit album, Physical.

Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa's hosting duties in SNL's third season were largely seen as a disaster, due to his tendency to go off-script, which is said to be why he never appeared on the show again. However, his performances of "Dancin' Fool," "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing," and "Rollo" with the Mothers of Invention should still be recognized as highlights of that night.

Quincy Jones

In SNL's 15th season, influential music producer Quincy Jones made his sole appearance on the show as a host and musical guest. However, notably, he was not the only musical guest to appear that night, seen performing "Back On The Block," "The Verb To Be," and "Wee B. Dooinit" with the likes of Take 6, Tevin Campbell, Andrae Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, Melle Mel, Quincy D III, Siedah Garrett, and Al Jarreau.

Sting

Sting is qualified for the Five-Timers Club with his number of SNL appearances as the musical guest – one of which, in Season 16, also saw him headline as the host. The one-time Police frontman would later return to host the show again in 1997 but with musical guest Veruca Salt.

Harry Styles

In November 2019, Harry Styles made his debut as an SNL host on a night that also saw his induction into the Five-Timers Club as a musical guest. The English singer and actor had previously appeared three times with the boy band One Direction and once as a solo artist in 2017.

Gary Busey

Following his Oscar-nominated performance as the late, eponymous rock 'n roll pioneer in 1978's The Buddy Holly Story, Gary Busey made his sole appearance on SNL as a host. The actor also performed the song "Stay All Night" as one of three musical guests for that episode, the other two being Gregory Hines and Eubie Blake.

Bruno Mars

As he mentioned in his opening monologue, Bruno Mars had no prior acting experience (unless you count his cinematic debut as "Little Elvis" in Honeymoon in Vegas) before appearing as a host in Season 38 of SNL. Nevertheless, he proved to be a fantastic comedic actor in an episode that was also graced with a cameo by Tom Hanks, who showed up to introduce the pop star's performance of "Locked Out of Heaven."

Desi Arnaz

Desi Arnaz used to perform music and comedy on an almost regular basis when starring in the classic TV sitcom, I Love Lucy, as Ricky Ricardo. Therefore, appearing on SNL as both the host and musical guest (alongside his son, Desi Arnaz Jr.) should have been a breeze for the Cuban-born performer.

Lizzo

Lizzo's second appearance on SNL as a musical guest (for which she performed "About Damn Time" and "Special") was also her first time hosting the series. In her Season 47 episode, she proved to be a natural – especially in one sketch as a flutist who cannot play a note with twerking in unison – but also got a few cases of the giggles, endearingly so.

Art Garfunkel

Following his appearances with his one-time singing partner, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel went solo on March 11, 1978, as the host and musical guest. In addition to his performances of "All I Know," "Scarborough Fair," and "Crying in My Sleep," he was joined by Stephen Bishop for "Wonderful World."

Lily Tomlin

For her first hosting gig, on the sixth episode of SNL's first season, comedy icon Lily Tomlin also filled in as the musical guest, performing "St. James Infirmary" with Howard Shore & the All Nurse Band. In what would now be considered a controversial SNL moment if it was not largely forgotten, Tomlin would return to pull double duty in Season 8 but, for her musical performances, donned blackface to play a male R&B singer character named Pervis Hawkins.

There has been a lot of talk about "nepo babies" over the last few years, and while it may seem like every actor has famous parents. That is hardly the case though, of course. Many of our favorite actors come from much more humble roots. So let's celebrate those stars with this list of actors who came from blue-collar backgrounds. 

Sarah Jessica Parker

Growing up in Ohio Sarah Jessica Parker had a huge family, with seven siblings and step-siblings. She's talked about how there were times her parents struggled to pay the bills and were even on welfare for a time. Though her mom ran a nursery and her stepdad was a truck driver, they still found a way to support Parker's show business dreams and eventually moved to New York so she could star on Broadway. 

James Dean

James Dean is one of the most tragic stories in Hollywood history, and his upbringing was pretty rough too. His father left when he was a toddler and his mother supported the two of them as a single mother during The Depression. That is until she passed away when Dean was only nine. He moved to Ohio and lived with his aunt and uncle where things stabilized for him. After graduating high school, he moved to LA and embarked on his all-too-brief career. 

Maisie Williams

Though she found fame at early age with Game of Thrones Maisie Williams' family struggled when she was younger. She was raised in a council house (public housing in the UK) until she was cast in the hit HBO show at age 12. 

Jeremy Strong

Jeremy Strong may play a scion to one of the wealthiest families on TV in Succession, but in real life, he had a much more humble upbringing. Strong grew up in the blue-collar area of Jamaica Plain in Boston and his father was a guard in juvenile jails in town. Eventually the family moved to the more upscale town of Sudbury, where he went to high school and discovered acting. 

Samuel L. Jackson

For most of his career, Samuel L. Jackson was a blue-collar actor working as much as he could. That makes with his upbringing as the son of a single mother who worked in a factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Shania Twain

Shaina Twain is best known as a country singer, of course, but she's done a little acting over her impressive career as well. It's a career that has taken far away from her humble roots outside Toronto, Ontario, where the family struggled. Those struggles led to her finding gigs as a singer at a young age and the rest is history.

Samantha Morton

Samantha Morton had a rough upbringing in the UK. Nine of her formative years were spent in foster care when her parents, who were addicts, weren't able to care for her. She had a couple of scraps with the law herself but started getting acting work in her teens and it all came together. 

Dolly Parton

There is no more revered person in Hollywood (or Nashville) than the great Dolly Parton. She's often talked about her humble beginnings in rural Tennessee as one of 12 children. She has always praised how her mother kept the family together through hard times and when Parton was 18 she moved to Nashville and hit the big time pretty quickly as a songwriter and a singer. 

Adam Driver

Megalopolis star Adam Driver moved around a lot as a kid, living all over from San Diego to Indiana. His stepfather was a Baptist preacher, but he was mostly raised by his mother in Indiana. After the September 11th attacks, he joined the Marines and served, like many other actors have over the years, for a few years before being discharged for a medical reason and starting his acting career. 

Al Pacino

Al Pacino grew up mostly in the South Bronx, and anyone from New York can tell you that the South Bronx in the '40s and '50s was a tough place to live. By his own admission he got in trouble a lot, as often happens with kids with hard working parents. Even as a actor early in his career he couch-surfed with friends until he started landing gigs regularly. 

Dax Shepard

Dax Shepard's family experienced the American Dream, according to the actor and podcast host. His mom worked at GM while he was growing up near Detroit and the family struggled, but as he got older, his mom's career grew and she moved up the ranks from janitor to executive, so by the time Shepard was in high school, she was quite successful. 

Ice Cube

Any fan of N.W.A. knows about Ice Cube's roots in South Central LA as the son of a janitor and a groundskeeper. As a result of desegregation, Ice Cube had the opportunity to get bussed out of Compton and out to the suburbs, where he thrived in English class, something he would make good use of later in life as the principal lyricist for one of the most successful rap acts of all time. 

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson, who has won the famed EGOT, was raised with her two siblings by a single mother on the South Side of Chicago. She started working in local theater at a young age and famously worked on the Disney Cruise line before auditioning for American Idol in the show's third season, which was, of course, her big break. 

Mel Brooks

The legendary Mel Brooks, like so many of his generation, was the child of immigrants. He was raised very poor in Brooklyn surrounded by people who worked in the garment industry. Instead of following in their footsteps, he went into show business and the world is luckier for it. 

Joan Crawford

Screen legend Joan Crawford would die a very rich woman, but she started life as the daughter of a construction worker in Texas. After her parents split up and her mother remarried, her stepfather got in trouble in Texas and the family moved to Kansas City where Crawford attended Catholic school as a work student. 

Jim Carrey

At one point Jim Carrey was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, which is far cry from his humble beginnings in and around Toronto. For a time, Carrey has admitted, they were even homeless. Eventually his father found more stable employment and after dropping out of high school Carrey worked on his stand up routine and took shifts at a nearby factory. 

Misha Collins

Supernatural star Misha Collins grew up working class in Boston and he has said in the past that his family spent some time unhoused. He was lucky enough to gain admission to a prep school, which led him to the University of Chicago and eventually an internship at The White House during the Clinton administration before he concentrated on his acting career. 

Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson has been a part of two of the biggest franchises in Hollywood, Star Wars and the MCU. It wasn't always the big time for her though. Her mother was a teenager when she was born and never married Dawson's father, but did marry another man, from whom Dawson takes her last name. He was a construction worker first in New York and later in Texas. 

Jessica Chastain

Though she doesn't talk much about her upbringing, we do know that Jessica Chastain's stepfather was a firefighter and that her family life was a struggle growing up. She grew up in Sacramento with four siblings, though she lost one to suicide when she was in her early 20s. Chastain started acting as a kid and her career would eventually take off and she would become one of the most beloved and acclaimed actors of her generation. 

Daniel Kaluuya

Born of Uganda immigrants in London, Daniel Kaluuya was raised on a council estate in one of the city's most famous blue-collar areas, Camden. He didn't know his father growing up, but he excelled in school and started acting in plays while there. he started landing paying gigs in his teens and the rest is history.

Hilary Swank

Though she has humble roots as the daughter of an army soldier, Hilary Swank grew up in a stable household and even after her parents split up when she was 15, her mother moved with Swank to the LA area so she could try her hand at Hollywood. That bet paid off as Swank has been one of the best actresses around for decades. 

Charlie Chaplin

It could be argued that Charlie Chaplin was the first bonafide superstar of the silver screen. While he would eventually become Hollywood's biggest star and one of the most financially successful moviemakers of his era, his childhood was a hardscrabble upbringing in central London. His parents had no capacity to raise children and he bounced around reform schools and other group homes as a kid before finding his way, first in the theater then later in silent films. 

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez famously grew up "on the 6," meaning the 6-Train through the Bronx in New York City. Her father had a job as a computer technician and Lopez had a solid, yet definitely blue-collar upbringing. 

Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson has starred in some of the best roles in Hollywood over the last four decades, and one of them, Woody Boyd on Cheers, reflected his actual blue-collar roots in Indiana. The story of Woody Boyd and Woody Harrelson are pretty similar, as both were raised in rural Indiana. Harrelson was famously locked up in prison for most of his upbringing, and he eventually died in prison after Harrelson's career had taken off. 

Viola Davis

Viola Davis was actually born on plantation in South Carolina, if you can believe it. She was raised mostly in Rhode Island, however, but it was a hard upbringing which has described of being very financially unstable. 

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig may be famous for playing suave, debonair, and sophisticated characters, but that's nothing like his upbringing. His father was a construction worker and bar manager, though Craig does have aristocratic ancestors. 

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix (and his late brother River) had a wild upbringing. His parent were part of a cult called the Children of God and Phoenix spent much of his early life living in South America as his parents traveled as missionaries for the religious group. Eventually, the family left the cult, adopting the name "Phoenix" as a sign of their rebirth as a family in a new life.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is famously one of the richest people in Hollywood, but that's not how she started out. Her mother was a teenager in Milwaukee, but before long Winfrey found herself in Nashville living with the man she considers her father. While still a teen in Nashville, she started working in radio, which would eventually lead to her media empire. 

Bella Thorne

The whole reason Bella Thorne became a professional actor was to help support her family growing up. After her father was killed in a car wreck when she was ten, Thorne's mother was left to raise four children on her own. It was a tough upbringing, but the acting gigs started coming more and more often and got her big break on the Disney Channel's Shake It Up in 2010. 

James Caan

James Caan was in some of the best movies in Hollywood history. The list of Caan's best movies is incredible. His father was a deli meat salesman and he grew up in the blue-collar neighborhood of Sunnyside, Queens, in New York City. He found acting while he briefly attended Hofstra, where he would also meet Francis Ford Coppola, who would give the role of Sonny in The Godfather years later. 

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez was raised by a single mother who had Gomez when she was just 16. Gomez has never been resentful, it seems, and credits her with raising her under such trying conditions. Gomez caught the acting bug at a pretty young age and ws soon landing shows on kids shows, leading to the insanely successful career we all know and love. 

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington had the definition of a blue-collar upbringing as the son of a beautician and an employee of the water company in his hometown of New York City. His parent worked hard to make sure he got a good education and after graduating from Fordham, he embarked on one of the most successful Hollywood careers of all time. 

Beyoncé has proven to be a dominant force on the pop and R&B charts, as well as in theaters following the box office success Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé. She'll take on a whole new challenge in 2024 with the release of her country album Act II, and it's already off to a great start. Despite her single "Texas Hold 'Em" sounding like a kids show theme, the song is a dominant hit on the charts, and the album sounds even more promising now that Nashville legend Dolly Parton confirmed the Destiny's Child vet is covering one of country music's most beloved songs. I cannot wait to hear this.

Parton spoke to Knox News ahead of the 2024 opening of her relatively perfect family theme park, Dollywood, and she shared some thoughts about Queen Bey. The icon was asked if any collaborations were in store, or if Beyoncé would be delivering any exciting cover songs, which led to the 9 to 5 star confirming one was recorded that'll likely be found on the finished album. In her words:

Fans have heard a lot of covers of "Jolene" over the years, but I don't think there's a more uniquely perfect fit for a new version than Beyoncé. The singer took her struggles with husband Jay-Z's infidelity and essentially revived the concept album with the iconic 2016 release Lemonade. Despite some rough times and allegations from fans that the scandal involved singer Rita Ora, the couple overcame the odds and remains a power duo in 2024.

The song "Jolene" is about a woman fearing her husband will leave her for another beautiful woman, and Dolly Parton revealed to NPR in 2008 that she wrote the song partly because of a beautiful bank teller flirting with her husband, Carl Thomas Dean. That situation obviously differs from what Beyoncé went through, but she can surely speak to the song's message about other women capturing the attention of a taken man.

Dolly Parton confirmed she has a good relationship with Beyoncé, and that's not an uncommon trend. We know that Parton is also pals with Miley Cyrus, and Parton honored the star by singing "Wrecking Ball" for the former's Rockstar album. I'd love to see her do the same with Beyoncé, and I think Dolly would crush "Halo" or "Run The World." Now that I'm thinking about it, I'd probably be even more down to hear those covers than I would Beyoncé singing "Jolene," but I am still incredibly stoked about the one that actually exists!

Beyoncé's Act II album is due out on March 29th. Those waiting to hear country tunes from the star can stream "Texas Hold 'Em" right now, or they can distract themselves by checking out what's coming on the 2024 TV schedule. 

As TV comes back in full swing, Queen Latifah is gearing up for the return of her CBS series The Equalizer. The rap icon has acted and collaborated with multiple heavyweights over her decades-long career. So, of course, this advantage lends itself to possible guest stars for the network TV drama. One of those possible guest stars could’ve been country music legend Dolly Parton. After learning about this missed opportunity, I’m feeling so much FOMO.

Right before The Equalizer returns for its fourth season on the 2024 TV schedule, ET caught up with Queen Latifah to learn more about the upcoming season. The subject of guest stars for the CBS drama came up as she teased viewers will get more of what they love from the series. The rapper-turned-actor revealed she also came close to reuniting with Parton, saying:

I’m so heartbroken. I would’ve loved to see Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton together on the screen again after starring in 2012’s Joyful Noise. Getting Parton would’ve been great since they played so well together in the musical comedy. Parton’s appearance would’ve been another amazing guest star for the series after scoring Jada Pinkett Smith and Kelly Rowland in prior seasons. Latifah seemed amped about reuniting with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer as she recalled their time in the 2012 film, saying:

Working with Dolly Parton seemed like a dream come true. Of course, this revelation wasn’t surprising given Parton’s kind and giving reputation. I hope Queen Latifah and CBS will be able to convince the Grammy winner to do a guest spot. It would be nice to see the music icon back on the screen again after popping up in sporadic TV cameos in recent years. Maybe Parton could have a substantive role where she and Robyn McCall get to interact.

However, making the guest role a possibility might be hard as both women are busy. Queen Latifah has The Equalizer Season 4 premiere to worry about, which will air on CBS at 8 p.m. ET on February 18. Meanwhile, Dolly Parton’s music career hit a new level as she secured her highest-charting album, a new collaboration with goddaughter Miley Cyrus, and caused online discourse over her much-criticized Thanksgiving NFL performance. 

While we hope for these two icons to reunite someday on The Equalizer, make sure to check out our TV schedule to see what other season premieres are coming up.

Very few series have been on the air anywhere near as long as The Simpsons has, which means very few TV shows come close to being on the same level when it comes to guest stars. Beloved characters like Sideshow Bob and Fat Tony wouldn’t exist without recurring guest actors like Kelsey Grammer and Joe Mantegna, but we’re here to appreciate a smaller sub-section of Springfield visitors: celebrities who have played themselves.

Though The Simpsons has relied far more on famous folks playing fictional characters, the series has also boasted a wide variety of celebs from the worlds of art, entertainment, sports and literature across the past 30+ years. (Speaking of Mantegna, he actually voiced himself during Fat Tony’s first episode “Bart the Murderer.”) Now let’s look at a bunch of famous faces who popped up in 2D alongside the Simpson family and other characters. All but one episode noted below is available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.

Tony Bennett

With a career that spanned 70 years, Tony Bennett earned innumerable accolades including a whopping 20 Grammy wins. One of his more noteworthy feats, at least for animation fans, is that he was the very first Simpsons guest star to play themself. Even if it wasn’t the meatiest of Bennett's many film and TV cameos, it still opened the door for others to follow in his crooning footsteps.

Appears As Himself In: Season 2’s “Dancin’ Homer” Also can be heard singing “Capital City” in Season 14’s “Bart Vs. Lisa Vs. the 3rd Grade” and Season 24’s “Whiskey Business”

Betty White

National treasure Betty White first made her way into The Simpsons’ universe in Season 11 as a pledge drive host, though the role was initially offered to her former co-star Mary Tyler Moore. She was presumably the first choice for her second appearance seven seasons later, however, in which she plays up the fact that she and Homer had met before. 

Appears As Herself In: Season 11’s “Missionary: Impossible” and Season 18’s “Homerazzi”

Anthony Bourdain

Celebrity chef and “food bad boy” Anthony Bourdain was no stranger to hosting his own TV shows, which played into his Simpsons cameo in one of Marge’s food-centric dreams. The award-winning chef and author wasn’t the only foodie guest star in that ep, as it also featured Gordon Ramsey and Mario Batali. 

Appears As Himself In: Season 23’s “The Food Wife”

Halle Berry

Academy Award winner Halle Berry graced the animated Oscars stage for her big Simpsons guest spot as the presenter announcing “Angry Dad” as the Best Animated Short winner. Though not before she introduced the show’s cracking Wallace & Gromit parody, nor before she confessed to dreaming about her teeth flying out of her mouth.

Appears As Herself In: Season 22’s “Angry Dad: The Movie”

Paul And Linda McCartney

Paul McCartney is one of three founding Beatles members to guest star on The Simpsons, and the only one to be accompanied by his wife, Linda McCartney. Their appearance came out under the specific condition that Lisa Simpson remain a vegetarian throughout the rest of the show’s run, and she’s stuck to her sustenance-minded guns since.

Appear As Themselves In: Season 7’s “Lisa the Vegetarian,” which also uses the song “Maybe I’m Amazed” over the end credits

Drew Barrymore

Multi-hyphenate celeb Drew Barrymore first popped up on The Simpsons back in 2000 as Krusty the Clown's daughter from a one-night stand, and it took another 24 years for her to return, this time as herself from the set of her daytime talk show.

Appears As Herself In: Season 34’s “The King of Nice,” and as Sophie Krustopfsky in Season 12’s “Insane Clown Poppy”

Stephen King

The King of Horror appeared on The Simpsons in 2000, which was the rare year in which Stephen King didn’t publish any finalized fictional works. (He did release the nonfiction memoir On Writing and the incomplete serialized e-book The Plant.) King turned down the offer to reprise himself for 2022’s Halloween parody special “Not It.”

Appears As Himself In: Season 12’s “Insane Clown Poppy”

• RELATED: Building The Ultimate Stephen King Collection: Every Book, Movie And TV Series A True King Fan Should Own

Britney Spears

In the months before the release of her second mega-popular album Oops!...I Did It Again, as well as her first Grammy nomination, the fictional version of pop star Britney Spears took on some low-hanging job fruit by co-hosting the annual Springfield Pride Awards opposite Kent Brockman. She also aided in the death of 108-year-old Cornelius Chapman, as her kiss sent him to the Circus in the sky.

Appears As Herself In: Season 11’s “The Mansion Family” 

Gal Gadot

A year after her blockbuster leading role in Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot attempted to land an acting gig playing Lisa Simpson for a faith-based movie sourced to Bart’s fabricated story about seeing heaven after a serious injury. The episode also featured a jokey reference to her handing out hamburgers at the 2018 Oscars.

Appears As Herself In: Season 30’s “Bart’s Not Dead”

Cheech And Chong

The comedic duo of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong teamed up once more in animated form for a Simpsons episode dating back to 2011, and one that didn’t hinge upon the leafy plant that fueled their early careers. Also noteworthy: even though Cheech and Chong technically first appeared on South Park, those cameos were recorded separately years before they formally reunited.

Appear As Themselves In: Season 22’s “A Midsummer’s Nice Dream”

Carmen Electra

Baywatch and Scary Movie fave Carmen Electra popped up in one of The Simpsons’ more bizarro celebrity cameos. After Marge and Homer were blamed and jailed for the death of an elderly woman (voiced by Frances Sternhagen), it was all revealed to be part of a new Fox prank show, and not only was the woman still alive, but she was actually Electra in disguise. 

Appears As Herself In: Season 13’s “The Frying Game”

Daniel Radcliffe

Harry Potter vet Daniel Radcliffe poked fun at his own massive fame when he appeared as himself following two previous Simpsons guest spots, running into Homer at a video game convention while in costume, though he immediately gave himself away, only to be consumed by a group of nearby fans. 

Appears As Himself In: Season 29’s “No Good Read Goes Unpunished,” as vampire Edmund in Season 22’s “Treehouse of Horror XXI,” and as Bart’s new friend Diggs in Season 25’s “Diggs”

50 Cent

Grammy winner 50 Cent appeared in one of The Simpsons’ music-centric episodes paying homage to hip-hop, though he didn’t contribute to the musical side of things, and instead tried to make inspiring Bart count as community service. The episode is also notable for inspiring the “Thursday the 20th” necklace meme.

Appears As Himself In: Season 16's "Pranksta Rap"

Suzanne Somers

While still in the midst of her run as a TGIF fan-favorite character in Step By Step, Suzanne Somers appeared as herself opposite an animated David Brinkley as the commentator hosts for the Itchy & Scratchy Show-themed parade. But while the Three’s Company vet did indeed provide her voice for the gags, Brinkley was voiced by Simpsons vet Harry Shearer. 

Appears As Herself In: Season 7’s “The Day the Violence Died”

Matt Groening

The Simpsons’ co-creator Matt Groening is one of the few guest stars whose celebrity status was directly influenced by the existence and success of the show itself. He first appeared as a featured celeb in the show’s Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con, and could be seen gloating about his wealth while loading comics into a truck in the Season 21 premiere, with both eps revolving around Comic Book Guy plots.

Appears As Himself In: Season 15’s “My Big Fat Geek Wedding” Season 21’s “Homer the Whopper” as an announcer in Season 23’s “Holidays of Future Passed”

Lady Gaga

The Season 23 finale stands out as a special one, in that Lady Gaga’s appearance as herself was a core part of the main narrative, as opposed to just a limited cameo. The episode’s focus on unhappiness wasn’t so well-received, but it’s still a great send-up of the singer-songwriter and American Horror Story vet.

Appears As Herself In: Season 23’s “Lisa Goes Gaga”

"Weird" Al Yankovic

Parody mastermind “Weird” Al Yankovic is always dependable for a great cameo, and his first Simpsons appearance featured the faux parody “Homer and Marge,” spoofing the John Mellencamp hit “Jack & Diane.” He next showed up in flashback form (with glasses and curly hair galore) for the layered parody “Brain Freeze,” sending up Homer’s Nirvana-spoofing grunge song “Shave Me.” He then showed up as himself to sing and play the opening theme for a Season 34 couch gag.

Appears As Himself In: Season 14’s “Three Gays of the Condo” Season 19’s “That 90s Show” Season 34’s “Hostile Kirk Place”

• RELATED: Weird Al Yankovic's Greatest Parodies And Other Songs About Movies

Bette Midler

A winner of multiple Grammys and Emmys, Bette Midler showed up in one of The Simpsons’ most eclectic batch of guest stars, many of whom were portrayed to be quasi-friends of Krusty the Clown. (Including Johnny Carson, Elizabeth Taylor, Hugh Hefner, and more.) In a callback to a similar performance devoted to Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, Midler sings “Wind Beneath My Wings” to Krusty, which is quite the surreal (and unearned) sight.

Appears As Herself In: Season 4’s “Krusty Gets Kancelled”

Jim Parsons

Less than a year after bidding adieu to The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons achieved further geek cred by appearing as himself on The Simpsons for a fun educational-esque video about cryptocurrency.

Appears As Himself In: Season 31's "Frinkcoin"

Dolly Parton

Country music legend Dolly Parton was one of seven different guest stars who voiced themselves for the 1999 episode that aired following Super Bowl XXXIII, including NFL vets Dan Marino and John Madden. (And Rupert Murdoch, because why not?) But as the animated halftime entertainment, Parton is the only one who helped break Homer & Co. out of their stadium cell, so she gets the glory. 

Appears As Herself In: Season 10’s  “Sunday, Cruddy Sunday”

Mary-Kate And Ashley Olsen

Before they turned down reprising the role of Michelle Tanner for Fuller House, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen appeared as themselves for a 2004 ep in quite a savvy way: as the voices beyond the audiobook for Marge’s torrid romance novel The Harpooned Heart.  

Appear As Themselves In: Season 15’s “Diatribe of a Mad Housewife”

Yo-Yo Ma

One of the most accomplished cellists in existence, Yo-Yo Ma made his official vocal and musical debut on The Simpsons in 2015, decades after he and co-creator Matt Groening lived in the same Harvard dorm. Yo-Yo Ma had the unenviable task of helping woo Marge's mom for Mr. Burns. The accolade-laden Grammy winner also performed the Simpsons theme song for the closing credits.

Appeared As Himself In: Season 27's "Puffless"

Eartha Kitt

William Daniels provided the voice of Knight Rider's KITT twice on The Simpsons, but here we're talking about the wildly talented singer, actress, and Broadway luminary Eartha Kitt. She appeared in Season 21 as one of Krusty's former wives, who notably didn't make it beyond six hours before getting divorced. 

Appeared As Herself In: Season 21's "Once Upon a Time in Springfield"

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd is the rare celeb who seems to age better than his animated self, and there are multiple versions to look back on. The MCU vet first brought his Rudd-ity to The Simpsons in the faux biographical film Streaming Valor alongside occasional cohorts Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow. He next appeared as a version of himself who wanted little to do with a judgmental Comic Book Guy in an airport. 

Appeared As Himself In: Season 25's “Steal This Episode,” Season 32's “Three Dreams Denied,” and as therapist Dr. Zander in Season 22's "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing"

Martha Stewart

Homemaker extraordinaire Martha Stewart showed up as herself, or at least a fantasized version of herself, during Marge's dream sequence in Season 22's segmented Christmas episode. She didn't exactly save the holidays, but then nothing can with this family.

Appears As Herself In: Season 22's "The Fight Before Christmas"

Ringo Starr

One of The Simpsons’ earliest guest stars was also one of its most noteworthy. Ringo Starr was the first of the Beatles to appear as a guest star, as well as the subject of several paintings from Marge’s youth. He specifically chose for his Simpson-ized look to resemble his animated look in the 1968 film Yellow Submarine.

Appeared As Himself In: Season 2’s “Brush with Greatness”

Kylie Jenner

The first member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan to make it into the world of The Simpsons in an official capacity, Kylie Jenner lent her voice for the tech-based segment "Wild Barts Can't Be Token" in the 2023 "Treehouse" installment. Though she appeared alongside Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Fallon, she was the only guest star to provide her own voicework.

Appears As Herself In: Season 35's "Treehouse of Horror XXXIV"

Bob The Drag Queen

Bob the Drag Queen became a household name after he took the grand prize in Season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race, and then reached a whole other kind of icon status by getting Simpson-ized alongside drag sister Monét X Change in Season 34 for a fabulous final "viral vid" scene depicting a Waffle House faceoff between the pair, which George R.R. Martin watches instead of working on his next book.

Appears As Himself In: Season 34's "My Life as a Vlog"

Alan Moore

Comic book master Alan Moore has built up a reputation as one of the industry’s more prickly creatives, which makes it all the more incredible that The Simpsons not only landed him, but used him for an amusing Watchmen Babies gag two years before Zack Snyder’s Watchman film was released. The ep also featured cameos from another pair of brilliant comic creators in Art Spiegelman and Daniel Clowes.

Appears As Himself In: Season 19’s “Husbands and Knives”

The ever-energetic pianist Little Richard showed up on The Simpsons in all his gloriousness to present Edna with the Teacher of the Year Award. Though not before having to tell Homer to shut up for getting him confused with Prince (and Michael Jackson). 

Appears As Himself In: Season 14's "Special Edna"

Judy Blume

Four years before her famed book was adapted into the acclaimed film Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, bestselling author Judy Blume appeared as herself in a vision Lisa has that reignites her appreciation for America. If anyone has the power to inspire one of animation's smartest schoolgirls, it's Blume.

Appears As Herself In: Season 30's "D'Oh Canada"

Adam West

Years before he started voicing himself as the Mayor of Quahog in Family Guy, Adam West appeared as himself at the Springfield car show where Homer buys the snowplow that lends itself to the episode's title. The cameo is a fun one for Batman fans, with the camera angle slowly skewing diagonal in reference to the live-action series' villain shots. 

Appears As Himself In: Season 4's "Mr. Plow," and as Batman in Season 14's "Large Marge"

As it goes each year, Thanksgiving came part and parcel with a handful of NFL games to complement all the stuffing of turkeys and faces, with the primetime contest bringing out country music legend Dolly Parton to entertain the crowd packing the Dallas Cowboys’ home of AT&T Stadium. While her song choices weren’t necessarily surprising enough to carry tons of post-game conversations, Parton’s choice to don a cheerleader uniform certainly sparked more than a few opinions online, with a vocal minority jumping straight to body-shaming and ageism. After drawing a rousing F-bomb from Parton's sister, those negative reactions also sparked some fervor amongst the women of The View. 

In the middle of The View’s first episode back from the brief Thanksgiving weekend hiatus, Whoopi Goldberg took aim at those voicing their less-than-kind critiques of the entertainment icon, saying: 

You just know Whoopi wanted to echo Stella Parton's comments by saying "fuck yourself" to each and every naysayer, but such language wouldn't fly on ABC, and there's only so much time to devote to such a segment on a morning chat show. So a blanketed "Bite me!" it is.

Sunny Hostin also weighed in on Dolly Parton's choice of costume for her Thanksgiving Day halftime show performance, with a vow of theoretical solidarity. In her words:

Dolly Parton's sense of self-esteem and pride in herself are as much a part of her ongoing appeal as anything on the visual side of the spectrum, and both are certainly required to step foot in front of that many in-person fans, along with all the millions of people watching live and via online clips. (Also, the panel came to the conclusion that she was wearing a sticker over her navel area.)

Sara Haines also offered her take on the Dollywood namesake’s outfit, saying: 

Perhaps it's because Dolly Parton has been rocking stages for so many decades that so little attention has been given to the actual performance itself. We just expect that part of it to be A+, so the conversation has to go elsewhere. And it didn't even land on anything breast-related, though I guess Joy Behar's comments about nipple bras were enough to last the ages.

Performance critiques did come up during that conversation between The View co-hosts, however, even if it wasn't about Parton herself. Amidst the talk about the Grammy queen, Whoopi Goldberg steered the conversation to similarly hateful criticisms aimed at Jay-Z and Beyoncé's daughter Blue Ivy, and took an even harsher tone when addressing anyone who spoke ill of the pre-teen and/or her talents.

Not even keeping all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals in mind could stop haters from hating. I guess consumerism shouldn’t be the go-to cure for shitting all over other people’s parades, but whatever works. 

Regardless of where one stands on anything said above, I think we can all agree that Whoopi's conversation-capper below is good advice for keeping a positive headspace. 

The View airs weekday mornings on ABC, with the most recent five episodes available to stream with a Hulu subscription.

Watching football can be as much of a Thanksgiving tradition as turkey and stuffing for some people, and NFL viewers of the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders on November 23 also saw country music legend Dolly Parton take the stage at the halftime show. The 77-year-old singer and longtime Hollywood It girl belted out some of the biggest hits from her long career in an outfit that fit right in with the cheerleaders at the Cowboys home game, and while some have had critical comments, Parton's sister Stella dropped an F-bomb in her defense.

Dolly Parton sang a three-song, seven-minute set comprised of the iconic "Jolene," "9 to 5" from the movie of the same name, and a cover of Queen's "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions." It began with Parton showing her support for The Salvation Army before starting "Jolene" halfway through the football game. Unfortunately, some people on social media had issues with the singer wearing a cheerleader-esque outfit. Stella Parton had a short and sweet message to the haters that I think fans everywhere can agree with: 

I have to agree with Stella Parton – a singer/songwriter herself – on X (formerly known as Twitter) about Dolly looking "cute as hell" in her Dallas Cowboys costume for the Thanksgiving halftime show, no matter her age. Plus, what's not to love about her song choices? "Jolene" alone is a legendary song, to the point that America's Got Talent performers Chapel Hart came close to winning the whole season with their audition's take on it. "9 to 5" is certainly catchy, and Queen's "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions" pairing is perfect for any sporting event. 

The official X account for the NFL had what I consider to be a great take on Dolly Parton's halftime show, posting:

Dolly Parton was certainly a star for the Dallas fans! The Cowboys vs. Commanders game ended with a decisive 45-10 win for the Dallas team, with 25 of the Cowboys' points coming in the second half of the game. I'm not saying that the singer is responsible for the surge of scoring in the second half, but her performance didn't hurt! 

In all seriousness, Dolly Parton – who easily ranks among the professional musicians with film roles – has a legacy that will endure far longer than any hateful posts on social media that motivated a response from Stella Parton. She's a favorite for her sense of humor and philanthropy as well as her musical talent, including going viral over comments about expecting to "drop dead" while performing someday because she doesn't intend to ever retire and an amusingly inaccurate self-burn to Kelly Clarkson. The Dollywood theme park began a program to cover the college expenses for employees back in 2022, and the singer founded many charities, including the Imagination Library. 

All in all, I think it's safe to say that there are more fans than critics of Dolly Parton's halftime show on Thanksgiving. Stella Parton even followed her initial post up with a message to the people who showed support on X, writing "I wanna thank all of you for the positive comments on my post yesterday about my big sister Dolly." Over three days since it was posted, the NFL YouTube account's video of the halftime show has already accumulated three million viewers. 

Music and the movies are two worlds that cross over often, and to great effect. Sometimes the greatest overlap between those segments of entertainment comes from performances through figures we primarily know for carrying a tune over a scene. But believe it or not, these 32 movies featuring professional musicians are noteworthy for providing talent that can do both. 

Janelle Monáe - Hidden Figures

Playing Mary Jackson, an African-American mathematician crucial to the early days of NASA’s space race, Janelle Monáe showed off her dramatic chops in the historical drama Hidden Figures. One of the earliest cinematic roles in her career, Monáe would go on to become a more prolific actor and singer, adding films like Glass Onion: a Knives Out mystery to her resume along the way. 

David Bowie - The Prestige

As he continues to build amazing ensemble casts to carry out his cinematic visions, director Christopher Nolan has a knack for choosing talent. Which leads to that time Nolan begged David Bowie to be in The Prestige, as the helmer felt that the actor/singer would be a perfect Nicola Tesla. That instinct was as well played as the film it served to bolster.

Lady Gaga - A Star Is Born

Lady Gaga is such a natural entertainer that when she was announced as a lead in Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born remake, it didn’t feel like that much of a surprise. With previous films and shows to her acting credit, this role could be considered her cinematic breakout, as it landed her many raves, awards and nominations during the 2018-2019 awards cycle.

Frank Sinatra - The Manchurian Candidate

By the time Frank Sinatra made The Manchurian Candidate, his career had seen him make musicals, comedies, and intense dramas alike. The 1962 neo-noir thriller became one of his best received films, as Sinatra’s Captain Bennett Marco and his quest to prevent a clandestine assassination attempt distinguished itself as a contemporary hit, as well as an all-time classic. 

Queen Latifah - Set It Off

A landmark ‘90s drama that’s still fondly remembered to this day, Set It Off told a story of four women looking to live better lives through thievery. Queen Latifah’s Cleo Sims made up a part of that team, offering a complex performance that was both tragic and empowering. 

Gene Simmons - Runaway

Kiss frontman Gene Simmons knew what it was like to surprise the world when he and his bandmates took off their makeup for a period between the ‘80s and ‘90s. That was as good a time as any for Simmons to break into acting, as the villainous Dr. Charles Luther in Michael Crichton’s Runaway. 

Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard

If The Bodyguard had been made when it was first written, we might have seen Ryan O’Neal and Diana Ross playing the leads. But, as anyone in Hollywood could tell you, delays can sometimes gum up the works. Which is how, by time the ‘90s rolled around, Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston landed the iconic leads in this romantic-drama; with Houston making her historic cinematic debut.

Tim McGraw - The Blind Side

A year after Tim McGraw starred in Four Christmases, the country singer experienced two life changing moments. Not only did McGraw’s weight loss journey start to take off, but his acting career saw him co-starring with Sandra Bullock in the sports drama The Blind Side.

Beyoncé - Dreamgirls

2006 was a banner year for Beyoncé’s film acting resume, thanks to Deena Jones, part of the central trio in the musical drama Dreamgirls. The Renaissance woman helped boost director Bill Condon’s musical to awards glory, alongside co-stars Anika Noni Rose and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson. 

Lenny Kravitz - The Hunger Games

Lenny Kravitz jumped into the acting game in a pretty big way, after playing himself in several film appearances. Perhaps his most iconic role yet is that of portrayal of Cinna, stylist to Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in The Hunger Games. Inspiring everyone’s favorite tribute into subtle acts of rebellion, Kravitz’s warmth helps solidify the guidance that helped turn Katniss into a hero for the ages. 

Cher - Moonstruck

“Snap out of it!” With four words, Cher became a romantic-comedy legend, as she tried to deal with Nicolas Cage’s amorous advances in Moonstruck. Not only did that impress audiences overall, it landed her the award for Best Actress at 1988’s Academy Awards as well.

Flea - The Big Lebowski

If you thought “Nihilist #2” in The Coen Bros’ legendary comedy The Big Lebowski looked or sounded familiar, you have a good ear. Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Flea is the actor credited for that role, providing some comedic menace in Jeff Bridges’ neo-noir classic about blackmail, death, and bowling. 

Dolly Parton - 9 To 5

With a balance of commanding wisdom and unlimited sweetness, Dolly Parton is a country star that will always be an icon. However, watching 9 to 5 just might shock you, as the dark comedy shows her teaming with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda to teach Dabney Coleman how to treat a woman in the workplace. Let’s just say that lesson goes beyond a catchy theme song.

Dean Martin - The Sons Of Katie Elder

Rat Pack icon of cool Dean Martin is mostly known for either his comedies alongside musical pals Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., or his long running partnership with Jerry Lewis. But outside of either of those canons is Martin’s parts in westerns like The Sons of Katie Elder, which saw the crooner playing brother to genre legend John Wayne. So you can see how this was a pretty big deal back in 1965. 

Madonna - A League of Their Own

A League of Their Own's Mae Mordabito is quite possibly Madonna's most memorable part. As center fielder for the Rockland Peaches, she plays the entire cast with comedic precision with her free spirited character. 

Eminem - 8 Mile

Playing a fictionalized version of your own experiences isn’t a guaranteed success. And yet, Eminem took 8 Mile’s aspiring rapper Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith and made believers of fans and critics with his acting abilities. It was enough of a success that, decades after he has yet to take on another major film role, people are still curious if Marshall Mathers will ever lose himself in a movie again. 

Mandy Moore - A Walk To Remember

Pro-tip: if you’re a pop star that wants to become an actor, a Nicholas Sparks movie just might be the surest way to test those waters. Mandy Moore can attest to that fact, as her role in 2002’s A Walk To Remember was probably a good warm up for her future success as part of NBC’s drama series This Is Us. If you’re a fan of that meteoric network hit, and you haven’t watched this movie, you owe yourself a moment to correct that. 

Isaac Hayes - Escape From New York

A certain generation of Isaac Hayes fans will know him best as a soulful singer, while others would recall his velvety pipes from the romantically obscene Chef from South Park. And right in between those groups are the die hard fans of the best action movies ever who would remember Hayes as the menacing Duke in John Carpenter’s Escape from New York. 

Brandy - Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Everyone has their favorite Cinderella, and for Disney growing up in the ‘90s, Brandy is a prime candidate for those honors. Which is totally valid, as the singer’s leading portrayal in Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella is a magical glass slipper that ties the entire cast of notables together. To imagine this movie without her is, quite frankly, impossible.

Sammy Davis Jr. - The Cannonball Run

The entire Rat Pack of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. were all actors, as well as singers, at the height of their powers. One of Davis’ best gigs, besides the original Ocean’s 11, came out of The Cannonball Run, which reunited him with fellow pally Martin for two films of vehicular madness. 

Janet Jackson - Poetic Justice

Writer/director John Singleton’s Poetic Justice could very easily be counted as an acting win for either Tupac Shakur or Janet Jackson. However, Ms. Jackson wins out no question, as her dynamic performance as Justice anchors both the dramatic, and the romantic halves of this picture. Not to mention, this project marking Janet’s debut as a feature film actor is still a powerful statement felt by her fans.

Andre Benjamin - Four Brothers

While Four Brothers isn’t an exact, on-brand remake of the western The Sons of Katie Elder, it’s pretty close. The similarities between the two Paramount movies are even eerier when you think about how Dean Martin’s acting career was enriched by the 1965 western, and Andre “3000” Benjamin saw the same sort of fortune come from his part in the 2005 action-drama.

Diana Ross - Lady Sings The Blues

Upon its release in 1972, Lady Sings The Blues sparked critical debate over how good of a biopic it really was. What wasn’t up for question was the excellence of Diana Ross’ performance as Billie Holiday; a feat that not only won her raves from critics, but also scored her a Best Actress nomination at 1973’s Academy Awards.

Usher - Light It Up

Not long after Usher made his movie debut in Robert Rodriguez's The Faculty, he graduated to being a lead player in the ensemble for writer/director Craig Bolotin's Light It Up. Going back to high school with Rosario Dawson and Sara Gilbert as classmates, Usher took part in a teenage rebellion with a cause more serious than any alien invasion.

Alicia Keys - Smokin’ Aces

The words “professional assassin” aren’t exactly what come to mind when talking about singer/songwriter Alicia Keys. That perception is part of how 2006’s Smokin’ Aces was such an explosive surprise upon its initial theatrical release. Keys and Taraji P. Henson’s double act as hired killers with a job to do helped keep this ensemble action dramedy spinning with chemistry to spare.

John Legend - La La Land

Is John Legend’s La La Land character a villain? It depends on who you ask, with his part in splitting up Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling’s on-screen romance acting as a defining factor. Unsurprisingly, the piano man’s charm and musical prowess added some extra star power to Damian Chazelle’s colorful musical.

Mariah Carey - Precious

People like Mariah Carey and Charlize Theron “deglamming” for performances in powerful dramas only helped amplify their performances. In Theron’s case, that led to her first Academy Award nomination in Monster. Meanwhile for Carey, director Lee Daniels’ heartbreaker provided her with a credit that wowed the critics to an impressive degree.

Alice Cooper - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Decades before Across the Universe turned the Beatles songbook into a jukebox musical, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band used that premise to a campier extent. This is, after all, the movie where you can see Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees “fighting” villains like Aerosmith and Steve Martin. And a part of that collection of baddies is an equally creepy and intriguing Alice Cooper, playing the role of cult leader Father Sun. 

Björk - Dancer In The Dark

Writer/director Lars Von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark was only singer Bjòrk’s second motion picture. You’d never know it, as this beautiful but tragic mashup of drama and music saw the Icelandic singer-songwriter land a heartbreaking blow with her character Selma. Trust us, you need the right headspace, and a lot of tissues, to take on this experience.

Common - Run All Night

While Common eventually got to hunt down Keanu Reeves’ titular assassin in John Wick: Chapter 2, he practiced his killer skills with another action vet: Liam Neeson. Run All Night pitted the rapping/acting talent against Mr. Neeson, and the war waged between the two men is something truly impressive to behold. 

Britney Spears - Crossroads

Not a girl, not yet a woman, and because of Britney Spears’ intense “method acting” in Crossroads, there was one more thing she wasn’t at the time: an actor. Though she’d eventually play a couple other roles here and there, preparing to star in this teenage drama road trip was enough to make Spears question how much she really wanted to act. 

Prince - Purple Rain

The world knows the many sides of Prince through his mythic career as a guitar god and musical boundary pusher. Purple Rain made that image all the stronger, as the man is basically playing himself, with some dramatic and comedic embellishment. The result is a movie that was a white hot success, and a powerful calling card in Prince's future endeavors on both sides of this fence.

While it’s not for everyone, actor/musician crossovers are always interesting to keep an eye out for. Both commanding successes and curious one-off scenarios are equally intriguing, as one never knows where the next success story will come from. Aspiring singers and actors alike take note: these cases we’ve just discussed are good studies to keep in mind when plotting your own course to stardom! 

When it comes to Hollywood, plenty of actresses, singers, and more have taken the world by storm. It could be from their legendary acting, brilliant singing, or even how they walk the runway, but one way or another, they become Hollywood it girls, the ones that everyone looks up to and wants to be. Today, we'll review more than 30 Hollywood It girls, their time in the spotlight, and where they are now. 

Audrey Hepburn

We need to mention Audrey Hepburn if we're talking about Hollywood it girls. The actress became a major it girl in 1960s for her roles in iconic films like Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady, and several other classic films. She won an Academy Award for acting in Roman Holiday alongside Gregory Peck and is considered one of the most iconic faces in Hollywood history. The actress passed away in January 1993 at 63. 

Angelina Jolie 

Angelina Jolie really started building a name for herself in the '90s, then gained fame for her role in Girl, Interrupted earlier in the 2000s, and only continued to grow in popularity. Her starring roles in movies such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Wanted, Salt, and more in the early to mid-2000s garnered her the coveted Hollywood it girl status. She also won an Academy Award for Girl, Interrupted. There are so many great Angelina Jolie movies to watch. 

Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno danced onto the scene as a Hollywood it girl 1962 with her starring role in the classic movie musical West Side Story, where she won an Academy Award for playing Anita. She continued to star in various films after in the 1960s and '70s. In recent years, she played Valentina in the new Steven Spielberg reboot of West Side Story and appeared in other films like 80 for Brady, Fast X, and more. 

Elizabeth Taylor 

Elizabeth Taylor became a Hollywood it girl around the time Cleopatra released in the 1960s. She would also star in films such as Father of Bride, A Place in the Sun, Ivanhoe, and many more. She also won the Academy Award for Butterfield 8, and starred in several films with her on-again-off-again husband, Richard Burton. Taylor passed away in 2011 at the age of 79. 

Drew Barrymore

Though she's been acting since childhood, Drew Barrymore was the Hollywood it girl in the 1990s, especially from her part in The Wedding Singer. Her small role in the Scream franchise was another big moment during the decade. Aside from that, she appeared in films like Charlie's Angels, Boys on the Side, Batman Forever, and more. In recent years, she became a host of her own syndicated talk show called The Drew Barrymore Show. 

Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews' best movies exemplify how she became a Hollywood it girl. Andrews is primarily known for two of her roles in the 1960s that shot her up to It girl stardom – The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins (for which she won an Academy Award), two highly iconic musical films where she showed off her acting talent and brilliant pipes. She continues to act to this day and often leads her iconic voices to several franchises. 

Dolly Parton 

When I think of Hollywood it girls, I often think of Dolly Parton. This country star has become a staple in the world of music and shot up to Hollywood it girl status in the 1980s, with a combination of her iconic music and her roles in films like 9 to 5 and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Diana Ross 

Diana Ross is an incredible singer who became a Hollywood it girl as the lead vocalist from the Motown girl group, The Supremes, back in the 1960s. But from there, she had a solo career that expanded decades. To this day, Ross continues to perform and make music. She also won several awards for her role in Lady Sings the Blues. 

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was another iconic voice from the late 1960s and became an even bigger star in the latter half of the decade, becoming one of the biggest Hollywood it girls out there. Some of her songs that you might recognize include "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "I Say A Little Prayer" and more. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 76.  

Brooke Shields

Back in the early 1980s, all anyone could talk about was Brooke Shields. The actress became big at a young age for her modeling, and then began to star in films such as The Blue Lagoon, Endless Love, and more, which truly cemented her status. She played Van in Holiday Harmony in 2022. 

Judy Garland 

You can't get more Hollywood it girl than Judy Garland, someone who starred in one of the most iconic movies ever, The Wizard of Oz, and became a well-known Hollywood it girl from the 1930s onward. Garland primarily became known for her role as Dorothy, but she did star in several other movies (such as Easter Parade, Summer Stock, A Star Is Born) and more before she died in 1969 when she was 47. 

Molly Ringwald

Molly Ringwald was the Hollywood it girl in the mid-1980s, appearing in several major coming-of-age teen films that I'm sure most of us know today. Some of these that really cemented her status as a Hollywood it girl were The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, and more. Ringwald still acts, both on TV and in movies. For a few years she played Archie's mother in the hit CW show Riverdale. 

Cher

Cher is a singer who became known for her deep voice and style, and also her acting. Cher has been around since the 1960s, and has been a Hollywood it girl for several decades. The late '80s was where we got several songs synonymous with Cher today that really cemented her place in the music industry, like "I Found Someone" and "If I Could Turn Back Time." Today, Cher still works on music. 

Barbra Streisand

Barbara Streisand is a singer who also became a prominent voice of the late 1960s. Specifically, her role in Funny Girl made her stand out even more, a part that she won an Academy Award for, and from there she only grew in stardom and it-girl status.  Streisand still works on music and has achieved EGOT status over her time in Hollywood. 

Goldie Hawn 

Goldie Hawn gained fame for her role in the sketch comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-On but blew up even more after her time in the 1960s film Cactus Flower, which really cemented her status as a Hollywood it girl. She appeared in several other movies, such as Shampoo, The Sugarland Express, Private Benjamin, and more. She's been the partner of Kurt Russell for many years and even appeared alongside him in Overboard, and more recently, The Christmas Chronicles 2. 

Tina Turner

Tina Turner is a legend in the world of music, becoming super famous in the early 1970s, especially with her release of "What's Love Got To Do With It." The singer is known as the "Queen of Rock and Roll" and has released such well-known tunes as "Better Be Good To Me," "The Best" and many more. Tina Turner unfortunately passed in 2023 at the age of 83. 

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts’ best movies are mainly from the 1980s and 1990s, making her the Hollywood it girl of the time. Pretty Woman was one of Roberts' best movies that cemented her status as an it-girl, but she appeared in several films throughout the 1990s, like My Best Friend's Wedding, Notting Hill, Runaway Bride, and more, and even won an Academy Award for Erin Brockovich in 2000. She appeared in Ticket to Paradise in 2022. 

Liza Minnelli

The daughter of Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, is known for her work as an actor, singer, and dancer, and for also achieving EGOT status. Minnelli's status as it girl really started to appear in her part in Cabaret in 1972, but she also starred in other movies like Arthur and Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon, as well as many others. The actress most recently had a cameo appearance in Halston in 2021. 

Carly Simon 

The iconic Carly Simon has worked in music for many years and became a major it girl in the early 1970s. She released songs such as "Haven't Got Time For Pain," "You're So Vain," "Mockingbird," and more. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Donna Summer (1975) 

Donna Summer, a disco legend, released music such as "Love to Love You Baby" and "I Feel Love," among many other iconic music from that time in the mid-1970s. Both songs were huge hits among the rest of her discography. She passed away in 2012 at the age of 63. 

Lisa Bonet

Lisa Bonet primarily gained fame from her role on The Cosby Show in the 1980s, which she reprised in the college-set spinoff A Different World. Aside from that, she also starred in movies like Angel Heart, which further cemented her status as a leading lady. She held a recurring role in Ray Donavan in 2016. 

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is known for numerous roles, going back to 1970s, and was a great Hollywood it girl, specifically beginning from her time in The Godfather movies. She also appeared in films such as Play It Again, Sam, Sleep, Love and Death, and Annie Hall, which won her an Academy Award. Keaton was in Book Club: The Next Chapter in 2023. 

Olivia Newton-John

You couldn't go anywhere in the 1970s without hearing about Olivia Newton-John. Not only was the actress known for her role in Grease in 1978, but she also had an excellent singing career, releasing hits like "I Honestly Love You" and "Physical," which only further showed just how much of an it girl she was. Newton-John passed away in 2022. 

Pam Grier

Pam Grier has appeared in several memorable action films. Coffy in 1973 was really what brought her to stardom, but she continued to shine in films like Foxy Brown, The Big Doll House, Women in Cages, The Big Bird Cage, The Arena, Sheba Baby, and many more. Years later, she also starred in Jackie Brown, one of Quentin Tarantino's films. She appeared in Pet Sematary: Bloodlines in 2023. 

Meryl Streep 

While I will always consider Streep an it girl all the time, she became well-known at the end of the 1970s and '80s for her starring roles in movies like Kramer vs. Kramer (which won her an Academy Award), The Deer Hunter, and Sophie's Choice. In 2023, held a recurring role on the great Hulu TV series Only Murders in the Building. 

Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett was an actress known not only for her beautiful and luxurious hair, but for her acting in the series Charlie's Angels from 1976 to 1981. She also appeared in Harry O and The Six Million Dollar Man. She unfortunately passed away in 2009 at the age of 62. 

Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals rose to fame from her role in Flashdance in 1983 and continued appearing in other significant movies, including Vampire's Kiss, Devil in Blue Dress, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Cycle, and more. Today, she still acts and appeared in the 2022 film Luckiest Girl Alive and was a part of the guest cast of the Disney+ Star Wars series, The Book of Boba Fett. 

Winona Ryder

While many people remember her well for her role in Beetlejuice, she began to appear in several films in the late 1980s and 1990s. Her biggest one in my opinion was Edward Scissorhands in 1990, which really showed off her acting prowess and made her an it girl, but she also appeared in films such as Heathers, Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Age of Innocence, and Little Women, among others. She has a starring role in the hit Netflix binge-able series Stranger Things.

Janet Jackson

While Michael Jackson was a Hollywood it guy, his sister Janet was undoubtedly a Hollywood it girl. Janet Jackson is a legendary voice in the music genre and released hits during the 1980s like "Nasty" and "Rhythm Nation," among others. In 2019, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Naomi Campbell 

Naomi Campbell was a massive influence in the modern-day fashion industry, becoming the first-ever Black woman to headline the covers of both Vogue France and Time in the late 1980s. Aside from modeling, Campbell also worked in acting and music. She more recently appeared in Black is King in 2020 and was a part of the docu-series The Super Models. 

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston rose to fame in the late 1980s for her songs like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "Greatest Love of All," but later starred in The Bodyguard in 1992, which included several hit songs on its soundtrack, including her iconic version of "I Will Always Love You." She also starred in several other films like The Preacher's Wife and Waiting to Exhale, further showing her Hollywood it girl status. Houston passed away in 2012. 

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon gained a lot of fame for her roles in movies in the late 1990s, such as Cruel Intentions and Election, but became huge with her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde in 2001, which is genuinely one of Reese Witherspoon's best movies, and has since appeared in several other films. She even won an Academy Award for her co-starring role in Walk the Line. She has a co-starring role in the Apple TV+ series, The Morning Show, alongside Jennifer Anniston. 

There are so many amazing Hollywood it girls out there that we could talk about, but these are just some that have taken the world by storm. Who knows who is going to end up becoming the next Hollywood star that tops this list? 

There’s not much that Dolly Parton can’t do, and as if that’s something she needed to prove after decades of singing, songwriting, acting and philanthropy, the country music legend is set to release an album of rock music covers next month. She and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus have collaborated on music several times before, so it was no surprise to find out that the two turned it up again for Rockstar, singing Cyrus’ 2013 hit “Wrecking Ball.” Parton’s rendition was released October 20, and it seems they couldn’t have been happier, as she and Cyrus shared the sweetest exchange on social media.

“Wrecking Ball” is one of 30-plus hits that Dolly Parton will lend her talents to when Rockstar is released Friday, November 17, with most of the tracks featuring other rock artists or duets with the original singers. Miley Cyrus has joined in on her godmother’s hits plenty of times, including “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene,” and she posted on Instagram how much it meant to have the multi-talented country singer and actress perform one of hers. Cyrus wrote: 

Miley Cyrus may have forgone the wrecking ball for a trapeze with her latest album release this year, but there’s no questioning how much it meant that she was able to revisit the decade-old hit with such an icon in the music industry. But the moment seemed to mean just as much to Dolly Parton, who left the following comment on the Hannah Montana alum’s post: 

These two are simply adorable together, and that fact was made abundantly clear when Dolly Parton joined the queen of New Year’s Eve for an epic medley on Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party on NBC, which featured not just a duet of “Wrecking Ball” to represent that genre of music but also “I Love Rock 'N' Roll.”

It’s fun to see the 77-year-old still going strong and rocking out to new music, and there’s no end in sight. Dolly Parton said earlier this year that she’ll likely never retire and hopefully will “drop dead” in the middle of a song while performing one day. We’re certainly not ready for that day yet, though, because we need lots more of these rock ‘n’ roll collabs and sweet moments with Miley Cyrus first. 

A few years ago, a co-worker and I were chatting in the common room of our office when she casually mentioned that 9 to 5 was one of the most interesting '80s movies. At the time, my entire understanding of that movie had everything to do with the Dolly Parton song of the same name (that I later found out is used amply in the flick) and nothing to do with the plot of the movie whatsoever. Thanks to the joys of streaming, all of that has changed, but I’m here to tell you: Holy hell, I had no idea what the movie was about.

To start let’s talk about the things I knew about 9 to 5 going in to streaming it for the first time with my Max subscription. 

• I knew it was an office movie, and a comedy.
• I knew Dolly Parton was in it.
• I knew it had come out in the eighties.
• I also knew it was an early collaboration between Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

For a movie that came out years and years before I was born, I at least feel like this is a reasonable amount to know about a movie beyond just generally being aware of its existence. Regardless, if you, like me, were born well after the year 1980, you may be shocked to learn this movie has a wild AF plot and messages that are still relevant today. 

So, here’s the holy cow of it all. Fonda, Tomlin and Parton all work in the same office. Their characters Judy, Violet and Doralee are an odd pairing, as Judy is a rule follower and the new gal in the office, Violet is seasoned and overdue for a promotion, and Doralee is seen to be sleeping with the boss given his overt flirtations – though she’s actually uncomfortable with the interactions as his employee. So far, it sounds like a pretty straightforward office comedy, right? 

Well, let's just go ahead and dive into all the bonkers things that happen across 9 to 5's bonkers hour and 40 minute runtime. 

Some Things I Found Bonkers About 9 To 5 

Obviously, I’m about to get into spoilers, and while I think that’s fair game for a movie that came out in 1980, I’ll go ahead and warn you anyway. Don’t read further if you’d like this movie to be a surprise when you stream it as well. 

The casual sexism. The ladies’ boss is so transparently skeevy in 9 to 5. If this is what the workplace was like in the eighties, count me out. Honestly, it was so unexpectedly gross it reminded me of when I was watching Mildred Pierce and some random stranger just casually spanked Kate Winslet’s character. Didn’t even know her! The audacity of this behavior is apalling, but the bad boss in this movie does not get a pass.

The fact that Violet considers murdering her boss, then plans to murder her boss, then thinks she’s murdered her boss. (All with rat poison she accidentally put in his coffee.) Honestly, this sequence of events is hysterical, but I had no freaking clue this movie was about a revenge fantasy, and this first bit all happens so fast, after a marijuana-enhanced dreaming sequence! What did I get myself into?

There’s a series of unfortunate events in which the ladies (who think their boss is poisoned) take him to the hospital. They then overhear a doctor speaking about a poisoned man who died and steal the body. Violet then crashes the car with the body in the trunk, causing the women to take a better look and realize the body isn’t their boss Mr. Hart after all. So they literally drive back to the hospital to return the body. Just wild. 

Just when I thought things couldn’t get more WTF, the ladies decide to kidnap their boss. I mean, honestly, at this point a kidnapping feels par for the course, and Mr. Hart kind of brought it on himself, attempting to blackmail Doralee into sleeping with him. Could things get weirder? (I’m asking rhetorically because of course they can.)

There’s an element of bondage. In fact the ladies tie their boss up. And not like just with some rope. They get up to even more shenanigans as they literally put Mr. Hart on a metal garage runner attached to some bondage materials, including chains and a collar. Hoo boy!

This couldn’t be a happy ending could it? In the absence of the head honcho, Doralee, Judy and Violet start making changes and sprucing up the office, first with flair on desks and then with some innovative changes, like offering childcare during office hours. Eventually they blackmail Mr. Hart with evidence of alleged wrongdoing they’d found but it all ends well for everyone, when the head honcho arrives and offers Hart a “promotion” in Brazil to improve operations there, and the ladies officially take over the office. 10 points for feminism and 0 points for chauvinism. 

Look, if you’ve seen the movie, you should know I’m just rehashing some of the crazier plot points here, but I cannot begin to tell you how little I understood about this bonkers film until I put it on. Some of the stuff I expected was there. There are zingers thrown between the leading ladies -- two of whom are comedy icons and one of whom is an absolute legend -- and there’s the expected change in the office for the better I thought was a part of the movie heading in. Regardless, I had no idea this was the story of a near murder-turned blackmail-turned happy ending. I'm still thinking about it days later. 

How 9 To 5 Came About

There’s actually a PBS documentary called  9to5: The Story Of A Movement that touches on how Dolly Parton’s song and the subsequent movie was based on the real-life concept of women in the workplace in the seventies realizing they could fight for better pay and working conditions, and that they could engage in the fight together. For the documentary, Jane Fonda was interviewed, and she spoke out about the famous flick.  Per Fonda in the doc: 

Comedy is not supposed to necessarily be tied down to reality, but the idea of thinking you’ve accidentally killed your boss and then kidnapping him in his own home instead is just so over-the-top and unexpected I was agape. Plus, watching the revenge fantasy play out was a whole lot more fun than watching a revenge movie like Promising Young Woman (which is a good movie, but decidedly not fun in any way.)

Really, they don't make 'em like this anymore. Given how ungrounded in reality the flick is, the fact that it simultaneously was a love letter to a real life movement is also just perfection. The cast is great, the soundtrack has one banger (OK and one banger only), but if you have not seen this movie, now is the time to give it a whirl. Even if they never end up making that 9 to 5 sequel, you won’t regret it. 

Stream it now on Max. 

They say legends never die, and it’s true that many will continue to live on through the contributions they’ve made to the world. In a physical sense, though, that’s just unfortunately not how it works, and it seems Dolly Parton has given at least a little thought to that fact. The 77-year-old country music legend is going viral for a wild comment she made, saying she’ll “hopefully drop dead” during a show one day, while Kelly Clarkson recently revealed her honest thoughts about performing one of Parton’s most iconic hits — and the milestone moment that occurred as she was preparing to go on stage. 

Dolly Parton Said She Hopes To ‘Drop Dead’ On Stage 

The hilarious and self-deprecating Queen of Country is preparing to release the 49th studio album of her seven-decade career. Most people don’t make their rock debut in their late 70s, but Dolly Parton is not your average gal, and she recently had an A+ comment when sharing her feelings on retirement. On the Greatest Hits Radio show, Parton mused: 

I can’t help but think that would be a pretty traumatic experience for her audience, should she actually pass in the middle of a performance, but there’s certainly beauty in the thought of going while you’re doing something you love. Dolly Parton’s viral pondering comes amid Kelly Clarkson’s own comments about the “Jolene” singer’s music. 

Kelly Clarkson Gets Candid About Her Dolly Parton Tribute 

When Kelly Clarkson was asked to sing at the 2022 ACM Awards in a tribute to Dolly Parton, the answer was an easy yes for the American Idol champion. However, when she learned that she’d been picked to sing “I Will Always Love You,” which was famously sung by Whitney Houston on The Bodyguard soundtrack and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult songs to cover, she had a less-than-favorable reaction, telling Andy Cohen on SiriusXM: 

To sing that song live during an awards show is one thing, but to do it in front of the legend herself? It’s easy to see why Kelly Clarkson may have been worried she was set up to fail. It turns out, though, that on the night of the ACM Awards, something happened that put an ironic twist on what she was about to do. Clarkson continued: 

Kelly Clarkson has addressed her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock through song before — even before the release of her album Chemistry, which is brimming with breakup songs that she wrote during her divorce. On her talk show’s Kellyoke segments she changed the lyrics to Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever”, and more recently took a shot at not just her ex but his father as well, amid their ongoing legal battle over unpaid commissions. “I Will Always Love You” isn’t really the vibe when it comes to her situation.

Kelly Clarkson certainly killed it at the awards show, though, despite any nerves she may have had going in, but I kind of hope that’s as far as the killing goes when it comes to that or any of Dolly Parton’s other music.

In the age of the internet, theme park food has been known to make headlines. Whether it’s seven-hour lines for a popcorn bucket or the various pickle-based delicacies that have graced Disney Parks, everybody’s hungry to talk about what you can find on the menu at an amusement park of your choice. Now Dolly Parton's Dollywood is being called into question thanks to a $229 apple pie that a TikTok creator has not only proved exists, but has actually justified as a “pretty good deal.” 

Yes, There Really Is A $229 Apple Pie At Dollywood

This isn’t some sort of joke or a scenario that jumps through hoops and conditions: there is actually an entire apple pie available at Dollywood that costs $229 for a whole pie, or $19.99 for a slice. It admittedly sounds like a lot, but as you’ll begin to see watching the TikTok from creator “stonewall_kelsey,” you’re not just getting a frozen supermarket pie for your troubles.

Now that’s a pretty big slice of pie, if you ask me. In fact, I’d say that’s roughly the baked goods equivalent of a Disney Parks turkey leg; it’s that massive. It’s also part of how the creator that captured this beast in the wild justified the cost of $229 for a full damned pie. For starters, only one slice is supposed to feed a family of four.

Why Dollywood's 25-Lb Apple Pie Is Actually A Good Deal

A full case to defend the cost of Dollywood’s $229 apple pie was given to Insider, as they followed up with “stonewall_kelsey” about their post. The full size of this tasty treat comes out to about 25 lbs, with 40-50 apples being used to make the entire item. It’s enough to reevaluate the whole scenario, and it’s certainly a case that’s a valid counter to any who thought this was just a cash grab in the works. 

Looking into the deep dish facts surrounding this delicious delicacy, this is exactly the sort of thing that fits into Dolly Parton’s ever generous spirit, especially when for $20, a family of four could either dine on the same piece of pie at Dollywood or treat themselves to a smaller treat elsewhere. In the light of recent Disney Parks ticket price hikes, this sort of thinking not only appeals to guests, but also executives who’d like to give parkgoers more bang for their buck. 

If you’re headed to Dollywood yourself and want to try this gorgeous-looking treat, you can head to the Spotlight Bakery in the Showstreet section of the park. Seeing as this is positioned in the first part of the park you’ll experience upon entry, this leads to one final advantage. This filling treat could help curb your appetite throughout your visit, and there’s a lot of walking and rides to experience that’ll help burn it off. 

Sarah Michelle Gellar has had an incredible professional career that started off in an incredible place thanks to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The show is still beloved to this day but of all the people who have praised it, and her, over the years, the actress says the one that really meant something was Dolly Parton.

It’s been something of an urban legend in the years since Buffy the Vampire Slayer, though it's been previously confirmed, that Dolly Parton was an uncredited producer of the show. Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Geller talked about knowing of Parton’s involvement, but not knowing how much she even knew about the show, until the singer publicly praised it, and Gellar’s performance specifically. The former Buffy Summers said…

Most of us would probably feel the same way if Dolly Parton ever said anything nice about us. It’s actually difficult to overstate just how beloved a person Dolly Parton is. While all celebrities have their fans, and many of the most popular ones earn their share of haters, Dolly, who has been a huge star for decades, seems to only have people who love her. Sarah Michelle Gellar is clearly on that list.

Dolly Parton is a country music star who is now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which shows just how broad her appeal has become. She’s made iconic music, been in numerous popular films, and these days you tend to hear her name associated with supporting worthy causes, donating money, and simply trying to do things to help people, like the employees of the theme park that shares her name, to try to make the world a better place.

So it’s not that surprising that the Buffy actress would have that sort of reaction to hearing Dolly praise her work. It certainly would have been nice to hear any producer on the show say nice things, but when that producer is Dolly Parton it just means something else. Check out Gellar’s full comments in the clip below.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s career is far from over, she's now starring in the new series Wolf Pack, so she may still do incredible work that will earn her praise from all sorts of places, but it’s probably going to be difficult to ever top hearing Dolly Parton say you do a good job.  

Miley Cyrus is ready to ready to release more, and she is not messing around. Proving that she is the Queen of New Year’s, Cyrus announced her brand new single at her and Dolly Parton’s NYE event, and now the singer has just revealed that she is also coming out with a new album. And this time, she is trading in the wrecking ball for a full-blown trapeze act. 

The former Voice coach revealed the album on her Instagram, with the cover art being of her hanging from a trapeze bar in the sky. She is clearly ready as ever for Endless Summer Vacation to come, and I can only imagine that the rest of the album will feature similar art that screams summer:

Fans will remember that Miley Cyrus famously rode a wrecking ball during her Bangerz days for the “Wrecking Ball” video, and it looks like she is ready to let go of that past and start anew. Cyrus’ albums are all wildly different, so it’s hard to tell what this album will be like but just going off of the cover, it’s going to be a great one. Maybe she’ll take some pointers from Britney Spears’ Circus for her trapeze act?

It's not surprising that the former Disney star would want an endless summer vacation, especially after what she’s been through. Her own divorce, as well as her parents’ public divorce, was likely hard on her, but it should be interesting to see if she includes it in any of her songs or at least something similar. 

Meanwhile, it should also be interesting to see if she does any collaborations on the upcoming album. Selena Gomez’s A+ impression of Miley Cyrus got approval from the "Midnight Sky" singer, and it’s clear that the two are still friends after all these years. Maybe they will finally collab and give fans what they have been waiting forever for. I just need it.

It should be noted that Miley Cyrus’ new single is also set to release on ex-husband Liam Hemsworth’s birthday. Whether the song is about him or their past together or her moving on since she is happy with her new beau should be something to look out for. She never disappoints, so whatever it’s about, it’s definitely going to be incredible.

Endless Summer Vacation marks Cyrus’ first album in three years since 2020’s Plastic Hearts, which was her final album with the label RCA Records, as she signed with Columbia in 2021. The album saw several musical genres and influences, and it included features from Dua Lipa, Billy Idol, Joan Jett, and Stevie Nicks. Fingers crossed she includes even more collabs on this next album.

Endless Summer Vacation doesn’t come out until March 10, but until then, fans can likely expect Miley Cyrus to post more promotional photos for the album, maybe even a full circus act to really tie it all together.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Call Me Kat episode "Call Me Philliam." Read at your own risk!

Call Me Kat made its big return from winter break, but it was a bittersweet episode of the Fox sitcom. "Call Me Philliam" was the episode that the series had to write off Phil due to the death of actor Leslie Jordan, who died in October of 2022. Though it likely wasn't easy, the comedy managed to be the latest series to make a touching tribute that honored both its beloved character and actor all at once. 

The series welcomed guest star Vicki Lawrence to play Phil's mother, Lurlene Crumpler, who showed up unexpectedly to fill in for Phil as the baker was away in Tahiti with Jalen. As Kat and the crew coped with Lurlene and her eccentric behavior, fans learned what Phil's future was and why he won't be around Call Me Kat going forward. 

How Call Me Kat Said Goodbye To Phil

Phil and Jalen, as Call Me Kat previously revealed, went off to Tahiti together on vacation. Lurlene received a call from Phil during her shift at the cafe that he decided to stay in Tahiti with Jalen, and they were getting married and opening a bakery. The characters shipped out to Tahiti for a wedding that took place entirely off-camera, but fans later saw the cast gathered around a laptop reliving the whole thing. 

The cast reminisced about how much they were going to miss Phil in a moment that felt somewhat like the Call Me Kat actors were talking about both Phil and Leslie Jordan. It was really an emotional moment, and it only went further in that direction when the cast broke the fourth wall and decided to acknowledge the loss of Jordan. 

How Call Me Kat Said Goodbye To Leslie Jordan

A chair with Leslie Jordan's chair was brought out at the conclusion of the scene, and a sequined suit jacket was draped over the top of it. Mayim Bialik, Cheyenne Jackson, Kyla Pratt, Julian Gant, and Swoosie Kurtz all gathered around the chair and looked into the camera. Bialik broke the silence and said the following: 

The cast then remained on screen, cried, looked up at the sky, and honored the departed and well-respected Leslie Jordan. It was a very real moment that couldn't have been a more fitting tribute, even if it broke the illusion of the episode a bit. 

The scene then cut to country music legend and part-time actress Dolly Parton, who shared a few words about Leslie Jordan. After singing a few lines from the gospel song "Where The Soul Never Dies" that Jordan and Parton once performed together, Parton went on to say some words about her friend:

Dolly Parton and Leslie Jordan's version of "Where The Soul Never Dies" then played, while Call Me Kat ran a montage of some of Phil's best moments on the show. I can't imagine any fan watching did so with dry eyes, nor will those who visit the episode with their Hulu subscription in the future. It was a fitting sendoff to the actor, who will undoubtedly be missed by fans moving forward. 

Call Me Kat airs on Fox on Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. ET. Tune in for more new episodes and to see how the series will fix its need for a baker going forward.

For the second straight year, pop star and pop culture icon Miley Cyrus brought her love of performing, partying and A+ duets to NBC for Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party, which capped off the year in ways that truly sent some fans into orbit. The December 31 special, which was arguably the best of the 2022-2023 New Year’s programming, thankfully avoided the wardrobe malfunction that shook up last year’s airing, and entertained the masses with special appearances from Nashville legend Dolly Parton, pop star Fletcher, a certain wrecking ball, and much more.

Miley Cyrus’ fans, as was expected, ate up every single second of the special from start to finish, and have been singing the entertainer’s praises on social media before, during, and after the telecast’s performances took place. Let’s quickly run through a line of Miley-hyping posts, starting with one of the highest forms of praise to be found. (Though it definitely wasn’t alone in its superlative lauding.)

Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus didn't just bring one song to life for NBC's New Year's special, but rather a handful of huge hits, albeit in medley form. The pair jammed to "Wrecking Ball" — more on that in a sec — "I Will Always Love You," "Jolene," and Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'N' Roll." And as many viewers would probably agree, it's never not amazing to see two generations of icons covering each other's tracks.  

Now that we've brought up one of Miley Cyrus' most iconic visuals via all things related to wrecking balls (such as giant disco balls), it seems like the best time to give the Hannah Montana vet a slowly ascending standing ovation for the New Year's special's low-key callback to her infamous performance at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards, by way of using the microphone stand for a bit of pole dancing.

The moment was noticed and celebrated by many, and this fan summed up a lot of people's thoughts by speaking to the ease in which it came up without making a whole lot of fanfare about it. (I wouldn't have balked at seeing her foam finger making a reappearance, though.)

Miley Cyrus also took the stage with former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne for a performance of David Bowie's "Let's Dance" that admittedly left more than a few unfamiliar fans scratching their heads over what they were watching. But for those who were into it, there was nothing not to like about it.

Making matters slightly more confusing was the fact that this was the performance where Cyrus decided to bring out her Wednesday Addams dance skills. Again, a mightily strange sight for those who somehow still haven't watched the Netflix mega-hit, but it was another reason to cherish the award-winning singer for everyone who recognized the unique dance moves.

And I think it's safe to say that viewers went somewhere far beyond berserk once fellow beloved pop star Fletcher came out for a steamy and sexy rendition of Cyrus' "Midnight Sky." They would have broken the internet with a Zoom-based duet, so the fact that they were on stage and so hands-on was all bonus for many fans out there. Below is one of the more calm and level-headed reactions...

Which is now followed by one fan's unencumbered appreciation for one very specific part of the performance. 

But for all that was highlighted above, perhaps the most WTF moment of the entire special involved Miley Cyrus taking the stage with Sia and Paris Hilton for a surprise performance of the latter's "Stars Are Blind." I won't go so far as to say it was universally beloved, as there were definitely some naysayers afoot. But by and large, people reacted similar to the person below:

This person doesn't even have time for anything else here at the beginning of 2023 other than Miley and Paris doing their thing.

Here's a quick round-up of other opinions that fans had about Miley Cyrus' sophomore effort for NBC's New Year's Eve time slot.

• Thank you to Miley Cyrus and her godmother Dolly Parton for being the folks to really rock us into 2023. Lots of laughter and love. #MileysNewYearsEveParty - @Lulamaybelle
• I think Miley Cyrus has earned the right to sing whatever the fuck she wants. - @djdebutante
• can’t believe we just watched fletcher and miley cyrus fall in love on live tv - @unloversclub
• fletcher and miley cyrus and basically kissing on national television why are people still watching football - @accxrdingtochar
• Paris Hilton sang Stars Are Blind with Miley Cyrus last night and some part of my inner child was just healed. - @katlyngiberson

And to wrap it all up, here's a final Twitter observation to tie the whole room together.

Fans who missed out on the fun when it aired live can still stream Miley’s New Year’s Party with a Peacock subscription. Head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see what the new year has to offer.

There’s no denying that Dolly Parton is an absolute legend. She’s a country music singer and songwriter, actress and philanthropist who’s been blazing trails in the entertainment industry for over 50 years. The recipient of nearly 200 awards from her song, stage and screen career was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, and given her decades of entertaining fans globally, it’s no surprise that she had an A+ response to Kelly Clarkson calling her an icon — even if that response was 100% incorrect.

Dolly Parton appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show on December 1, where the host lauded Parton for her induction, pointing out how she was a pioneer for women, who had “opened the doors for so many of us to be able to be vulnerable as songwriters.” When Kelly Clarkson asked if it felt weird to be labeled an “icon,” Parton responded: 

False, ma’am. Absolutely false. No eyesores to be seen. The response drew some surprised laughter from Kelly Clarkson and her audience, and even though Dolly Parton was clearly joking, she remained humble as she explained her hesitation to accept an invitation into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her career has primarily been in country music, after all, but she came to realize the honor was about more than that. In Parton's words: 

Dolly Parton may be a country music legend, with hits including “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “9 to 5” — (which has a cool story behind it) — but there’s no doubt she’s influenced other areas of music, not to mention the world at large. To go with her 11 Grammy Awards, she’s earned a Primetime Emmy and been nominated for two Academy Awards and a Tony. You can hear her talk about her latest Hall of Fame honor (and her crazy self-deprecating joke) here: 

Outside of the entertainment industry is a whole other story unto itself. Jeff Bezos awarded her with $100 million in November as part of his Courage and Civility Award for her philanthropy. She has supported literacy through charities like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library; earlier this year she donated $1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center for pediatric infectious disease research; and during the pandemic she also donated $1 million to vaccine research. On top of her charity work, she also announced early this year that she would cover 100% of her Dollywood employees’ college expenses.

Dolly Parton has also become a fixture around the holidays, and in addition to her 2020 Netflix Christmas movie, Christmas on the Square, you check out the icon on Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas at 8 p.m. ET December 1 on NBC, or with a Peacock subscription. 

While Dolly Parton has had many delightful moments this year, including complimenting Taylor Swift and making a fun cameo on The Orville, she’s also been giving back to the country in many different ways. Her love for people and philanthropic spirit was recently rewarded by Jeff Bezos when he gave her $100 million via his Courage and Civility Award, and she responded in an adorable way.

Parton is the third winner of the Courage and Civility Award. According to American Military News Lauren Sánchez, Bezos’ partner, said the award is for “leaders who aim high, find solutions, and who always do it with civility.” Id' say based on this the "9 to 5" singer is the perfect recipient. Bezos specifically acknowledged Parton's work for kids and literacy in the speech leading up to the award. Sánchez also said that the country singer could direct the funds to any charities she desired. The Amazon owner then tweeted out the video of Parton receiving the award, and she said: 

You can just see the excitement on her face, and feel the joy radiating off her. Clearly, this money means the world to Parton, and those she will help. Check out her adorable speech for yourself: 

Along with being a legendary singer, Parton is also a legendary philanthropist. She has founded many charities, like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which mails free books to kids. This summer she donated $1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center for pediatric infectious disease research. She also donated money to COVID-19 vaccine research and multiple different scholarship funds over the past few years. On top of her charity work, she also announced early this year that she would cover 100% of her Dollywood employees’ college expenses. I'd say this long list of charitable work makes her a great fit to distribute $100 million.

The other two recipients of the award from the billionaire were José Andrés who founded World Central Kitchen and donated some of his money to make meals for Ukrainians, and CNN’s Van Jones, who founded organizations for racial justice and prison reform. 

This news about Parton was announced within a few days of Bezos telling CNN he would be giving away most of his $124 billion net worth throughout his lifetime. He said that he wanted to donate a lot of his money to fight climate change and support those who can bring people together during this politically divisive time. Also, he did this interview with CNN to promote the award given to Parton.

Along with her various charities, Parton is also staying busy with a new Christmas special, following her 2020 Netflix holiday special, which is on the 2022 TV schedule. So, along with seeing where she donates her $100 million, you can also check out Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas December 1 on NBC or with a Peacock subscription.

Taylor Swift’s new album, Midnights, is a smash hit, firmly cementing the pop star as arguably the most successful female artist working today. The “Anti-Hero” singer recently reached a milestone that has never been hit by any other artist. In the wake of releasing Midnights, Swift’s new music took up all top 10 slots on the Billboard Hot 100 list. On the heels of that, country music legend Dolly Parton shared some incredibly kind words for her, and are we really surprised?

Dolly Parton recently chatted with Access Hollywood at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and took a moment to laud the Midnights artist for her new album, and to congratulate her on her Billboard record. The “Jolene” singer said of the accomplishment: 

I think the feeling is mutual. In a TikTok video from earlier this year, Swift praised Shania Twain for inspiring her to make the transition from country music to pop music. When Twain paid respect to Dolly Parton as her own inspiration, Swift reacted to this with another TikTok, calling Parton “a queen.” I love that all of these incredible women in the music industry are all lifting each other up and supporting one another. Parton has clearly been such an inspiration for so many, and the fact that she praises the younger generation shows that she is still being inspired as well. 

There are a lot of similarities between Parton and Swift. While they obviously made the transition from country to pop, they are also both incredible songwriters. Parton famously wrote “I Will Always Love You” and has been nominated for two Oscars for the music she's written for different films. Swift has written music for Little Big Town, Calvin Harris, and Sugarland and has notably all of her own music. Swift has written songs for films as well, so maybe there's an Oscar nomination in her future as well. (And maybe Swift could possibly get one for directing?)

Taylor Swift can’t seem to stop making headlines following Midnights' release. Her stadium concert tour announcement made waves, with brides even rearranging their wedding schedules to accommodate the singer’s tour schedule. She always seems to be announcing new projects and giving Swifties something to look forward to, so I’m sure the public will be hearing more from Swift ahead of her tour, which kicks off in March. In the meantime, I'll be spending a majority of my time detangling easter eggs from her latest “Bejeweled” music video and hoping that she and Dolly Parton can team up for a collaboration. 

Right now, documentaries about both music icons are currently available for streaming. Dolly Parton: Here I Am and Taylor Swift’s Miss Americana are both streaming for Netflix subscribers, if they want a glimpse into the lives of these two major players in the music industry.

Yesterday, the country music icon Loretta Lynn died at the age of 90. Her children posted that she “passed away peacefully” at her home in Hurricane Mills. Lynn was best known for her trailblazing country music about her life and love. Now, many of today’s country music icons are posting tributes to the singer, including Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and more. 

Lynn was best known for her biggest hits like “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough.” She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988, and is the subject of one of the best country music movies of all time, which is named after her song “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Her trailblazing career helped other women in country music find their place in the music industry. 

This includes Faith Hill, who, along with being a singer, was recently welcomed into the Yellowstone family for her role in the prequel 1883. She wrote a lengthy Instagram caption noting Lynn knew “women could break down walls,” and she did it herself throughout her career. 

Faith Hill’s husband Tim McGraw, who also joined his wife in 1883, posted a nice tribute for Lynn. He noted that she was a role model for “so many young women” including his wife and daughters. It’s sweet that McGraw noted how much of an impact Lynn had on women in country music, as he has three daughters all in their 20s.  

Also from the world of TV, Blake Shelton, who is a mainstay on the 2022 TV schedule as a longtime coach on The Voice, posted a tribute. Taking a small break from his typical Voice hijinks, Shelton wrote: 

Dolly Parton, who was extremely close with Lynn, posted a heartfelt statement to her Twitter. The “9 to 5” singer, who is known for her generosity (like what she did at Dollywood earlier this year) and kindness, wrote about how Lynn was like a sister to her and praised her talent. 

Along with Parton, another trailblazing woman in country music, Reba McEntire, posted about how Lynn was very similar to her “Mama.” She sweetly posted that she’s happy her own mother gets to greet Lynn in heaven. McEntire also thanked Lynn for “paving the rough and rocky road” for women in country music. 

While there are countless others who have posted their love for the singer, we’ll end with Sissy Spacek, who played Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter. The actress won an Academy Award for her work in the film. She told CNN: 

It’s clear that Loretta Lynn was deeply loved and appreciated by those in the music industry. As many noted in their tributes to her, Lynn paved the way for many women in country music and was a true trailblazer and inspiration for young women.

The Orville: New Horizons delivered just about the most mind-blowing cameo in science fiction since politician Stacey Abrams appeared in Star Trek: Discovery, and that seemed like it’d be hard to top. Country singing icon Dolly Parton played herself in the recent episode “Midnight Blue,” which is something I’m not sure Hulu subscribers saw coming. It may not be something the crew even saw happening at one point, considering – as the director shared with CinemaBlend – they had to move a set across the country to make it happen. 

I had the honor of speaking to The Orville’s Jon Cassar, who split directing duties of Season 3 with Seth MacFarlane and personally helmed the episode “Midnight Blue.” Given the substantial cameo, I had to ask him about working with Dolly Parton (who manages to stay busy in unexpected ways these days). He explained how great it was to work with her and the challenges in pulling it off during the era of COVID restrictions. Cassar broke down the experience and how they built and shipped half of a Hollywood set across the country specifically for her scene: 

The Orville: New Horizons moved a set from Los Angeles all the way to Nashville so that Dolly Parton could do her pivotal scene in which a historical hologram of herself swayed the Moclan Haveena to come clean about breaking the treaty in order to protect Topa. It was a surreal scene to see to witness, considering Parton isn’t exactly someone commonly associated with science fiction, but that made it all the more incredible to see. 

Jon Cassar continued on with the story about the scene, which was filmed in two different places. Only Dolly Parton’s bit of the conversation filmed in Nashville, but Cassar explained that she did allow actress Rena Owen to come anyway so they could work on the scene together: 

It all sounds like a tremendous amount of work that the casual viewer wouldn't know about if Jon Cassar and others weren’t telling the story of the lengths The Orville crew went to make it happen. It certainly would’ve been much easier to scrap the idea and replace Dolly Parton with someone else, so fans should appreciate the scene that much more. 

No doubt some of The Orville fans are interested in the work it took to get Dolly Parton in the episode, but obviously, many also want to know what it was like filming with the country singer. Jon Cassar didn’t exactly shock with his response and confirmed that Parton was as warm and professional as fans might expect: 

The Orville: New Horizons is nearly finished with Season 3, and after that, fans will wait and see if they watched and supported the show enough for Hulu to greenlight it for Season 4. After the massive universe-changing events of the penultimate episode, I know I’m hoping to see it happen, but only time will tell.

Fans can catch up on The Orville: New Horizons right now by streaming Seasons 1-3 over on Hulu. The series will also arrive on Disney+ on Wednesday, August 10th, which should be a great opportunity for new audiences to check it out. 

There are only so many movies that fall under the category of “musical,” but most movies do have a musical element to them that lends much to their timelessness. I am not specifically talking about film scores here, but of the catchy and powerful pop hits that have accompanied some of cinema’s iconic moments - most of which were written specifically for the movie and helped launch its popularity, and vice versa. The stories behind how these iconic movie songs came to be (and other intriguing relative facts) are almost as fascinating as the films they appear in.

"Writing's On The Wall" - Sam Smith (Spectre)

While co-writing "Writing's on the Wall" -- from 2015's Spectre -- brought him great success -- including the Best Original Song Oscar -- Sam Smith does not enjoy singing his James Bond theme. Before singing the song for an audience for the first time on The Graham Norton Show, the Grammy winner revealed that he was "dreading" that very performance because it requires him to hit such a painfully high note. He then joked he would have to "grab [his] balls" to achieve the right pitch. 

“Danger Zone” - Kenny Loggins (Top Gun)

The secret as to why the opening scene of Top Gun - the highest grossing film of 1986 - is so unforgettable is the accompaniment of the infectious rock hit “Danger Zone,” which was composed and produced by Giogio Moroder with lyrics from Tom Whitlock. Vocalist Kenny Loggins recalled to MovieWeb that the film’s director, the late Tony Scott, also helmed the song’s music video, which was rare for a major Hollywood filmmaker to do at the time.

“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” - B.J. Thomas (Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid)

Of the four Academy Awards that the seminal western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid earned in 1970, one of them was for its equally seminal original song, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.” While the iconic track was memorably sung by B.J. Thomas, the late singer revealed in an interview for The Tennessean that co-writer Burt Bacharach approached folk legend Bob Dylan about singing the vocals. 

“Moon River” - Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast At Tiffany’s)

Composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics from Johnny Mercer, “Moon River” became a unique standout after its appearance in the classic romantic-comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s as sung by its star, Audrey Hepburn, who was not known as a singer at the time. According to The Telegraph (via Southern Living), that is why Paramount Pictures’ then-president, Barney Balaban, wanted to remove the song from the 1961 adaptation of Truman Capote’s novel, but Hepburn said that would only happen over her dead body.

“Lose Yourself” - Eminem (8 Mile)

Seventeen years after it won the Oscar for Best Original Song for its appearance in 8 Mile, Eminem took the stage at the 2020 Academy Awards for a surprise performance of his powerful track, “Lose Yourself.” Co-writer Jeff Bass told Billboard in 2017 that it took roughly a year to complete the song, partly because it was not until after receiving Scott Silver’s script that the rapper (born Marshall Mathers) began developing the autobiographical lyrics.

“Theme From Shaft” - Isaac Hayes (Shaft)

Isaac Hayes became the first Black man to ever win a music Oscar for the theme song of the 1971 Blaxploitation classic, Shaft. In 2000, the late musician-turned actor told NPR that, after he was hired to score the film, he requested to audition for the title role before it went to Richard Roundtree.

“Fight The Power” - Public Enemy (Do The Right Thing)

One of the most striking hits in the history of rap music is Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” which got a lot of exposure in writer, director, and star Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. According to an oral history by Rolling Stone, Lee wanted the “anthem” for his influential, and still socially relevant, 1989 classic to be a hip-hop rendition of the iconic hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as performed by the rap group, until co-writer Hank Shocklee of the Bomb Squad suggested making something new that would “resonate on the street level.”

“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” - Simple Minds (The Breakfast Club)

According to a Guardian article written by lead singer Jim Kerr, Simple Minds initially turned down the offer to perform “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” for John Hughes’ influential teen dramedy, The Breakfast Club until the song’s writer, Keith Forsey, spent some time with the band and they hit it off. Kerr also improvised the “la, la-la-la-la” at the end and planned to incorporate real lyrics later, but Forsey insisted it should stay.

“Mrs. Robinson” - Simon & Garfunkel (The Graduate)

In an interview for The Game 365, Paul Simon recalled a time he happened to spot Joe DiMaggio - who is mentioned in the Grammy-winning song from The Graduate - at a restaurant, approached him, and was questioned why the song asks where the baseball legend has gone. The singer-songwriter explained that the namedrop in “Mrs. Robinson” was a nod to a seeming absence of great American heroes at the time, which DiMaggio was then flattered by.

“St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion)” - John Parr (St. Elmo’s Fire)

The ultimate film from the “Brat Pack” era would have to be director Joel Schumacher’s star-studded 1985 drama, St. Elmo’s Fire, for which John Parr wrote and performed the theme song. When speaking to NPR, the British musician revealed the unlikely source for the lyrics to “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion),” which has little to do with the actual plot of the film, but with the inspirational story of a wheelchair-using Olympian from Canada named Rick Hansen.

“See You Again” - Wiz Khalifa Feat. Charlie Puth (Furious 7)

Charlie Puth told Entertainment Weekly that he wrote the chorus for the Oscar-nominated “See You Again” in 10 minutes while thinking of a friend of his who had passed in a similar way to Paul Walker. The actor’s untimely death in 2013, caused by a car crash, inspired Universal to approach Puth to pen a song for the end of Furious 7, which pays tribute to Walker.

“Shallow” - Lady Gaga And Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born)

While having a more romantic meaning in the context of the story from 2018’s A Star is Born, Lady Gaga told Variety that she believes the popularity of “Shallow” stems from a more serious real-world topic. She said that, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, the content of the Oscar-winning hit’s lyrics being a conversation between a man and a woman who are connecting and openly listening to each other is “why people cry when they hear it.”

“(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” - Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes (Dirty Dancing)

The Dirty Dancing cast played writer Franke Previte’s original demo of “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” while filming the iconic ending performance, which was also the first scene they shot. Previte told American Songwriter that star Patrick Swayze later thanked him at the Oscars for the on-set camaraderie that the demo provided them.

“Eye Of The Tiger” - Survivor (Rocky III)

Survivor guitarist and “Eye of the Tiger” co-writer, Jim Peterik, revealed to Songfacts that Sylvester Stallone initially wanted to use “Another One Bites the Dust” in the montage where the song appears in Rocky III. When he could not get Queen’s permission, he hired the ‘80s rock outfit, who originally thought to call the Oscar-nominated power ballad “Survival,” which would have been the last word of the chorus to rhyme with the lyric “rising up to the challenge of our rival.”

“Ghostbusters” - Ray Parker Jr. (Ghostbusters)

With only a few days given to complete the Ghostbusters theme song (the film itself was conceived, shot, and released within a year), Ray Parker Jr. struggled with the lyrics, especially with figuring how to incorporate the title, as he recalled on an episode of Netflix’s The Movies That Made Us. His breakthrough came when the titular paranormal exterminators’ TV ad in the film reminded him of bug exterminator commercials and inspired him to lead into the famous “Ghostbusters!” shout with the equally iconic phrase “Who you gonna call?”

“Stayin’ Alive” - Bee Gees (Saturday Night Fever)

According to ProCPR.org, a study proved that CPR trainees can maintain the technique at the recommended momentum of 100-120 compressions per minute even more effectively while listening (or singing aloud) to the Bee Gees hit which opens the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever. How fitting that a song called “Stayin’ Alive” really can help save lives.

“Purple Rain” - Prince And The Revolution (Purple Rain)

The title song from the soundtrack for Purple Rain was originally recorded by Prince and The Revolution during their live performance of it in the movie’s final scene, which was also the first time the band ever played it on stage. Alan Light, who wrote a book about the making of the 1984 film called Let’s Go Crazy, assured NPR that only minimal editing was applied to the track as it appears on the album, such as the omission of a verse and few notes in Prince’s guitar solo.

“9 To 5” - Dolly Parton (9 To 5)

According to Biography, Dolly Parton agreed to star in the 1980 comedy 9 to 5 on the condition that she could also write the theme song. The country music legend came up with its baseline (which resembles the sound of a typewriter) on the set while strumming her acrylic fingernails in between takes, which is why “Nails by Dolly” can be found in the soundtrack credits.

“Kiss From A Rose” - Seal (Batman Forever)

While it is impossible to separate “Kiss From a Rose” from Batman Forever, the song was not originally written for the superhero film and, in fact, Seal wrote it in 1987 - years before he was even signed to a label, according to People. In response to Joel Schumacher’s passing in 2020, Seal posted an Instagram video recalling how the director’s inclusion of the song in the 1995 blockbuster turned the romantic ballad - previously a flop - into the defining hit of the artist’s career.

“Footloose” - Kenny Loggins (Footloose)

When speaking to Bart Herbison of Nashville Songwriters Association International for an interview published by The Tennessean, Kenny Loggins made a “confession” about the title song from the 1984 Kevin Bacon-led hit Footloose. The lines “Please, Louise, pull me off of my knees” and then “Jack, get back. Come on before we crack” were inspired by a similar lyrical device Paul Simon used for “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” specifically when Simon sings, “Slip out the back, Jack / Make a new plan, Stan,” etc.

“My Heart Will Go On” - Celine Dion (Titanic)

Penned by James Horner, the love theme from Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On,” won the hearts of many - including those at the Academy Awards - but, initially, not its vocalist, Celine Dion, who told Billboard, “When I recorded it, I didn’t think about a movie; I didn’t think about radio. I thought, Sing the song, then get the heck out of there.” Additionally, director James Cameron was, at first, against the idea of adding a pop song to the end of his historical tragedy, but after a push from the studio and some convincing from Horner, he conceded and came to really admire the ballad’s resonance to the film’s romantic plot.

“I Will Always Love You” - Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard)

Whitney Houston’s career-defining song, “I Will Always Love You,” was recorded specifically for her 1992 romantic thriller The Bodyguard, but it is actually a cover of a Dolly Parton classic. Curiously enough, according to an oral history by EW, producer David Foster actually based his arrangement of the song on a previous cover by Linda Ronstadt, which was the only version he could find at the time.

“Gangsta’s Paradise” - Coolio Feat. L.V. (Dangerous Minds)

As Coolio revealed to Rolling Stone, Stevie Wonder had a few conditions that had to be met before he and L.V.’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” - the de facto theme for 1995’s Michelle Pfeiffer-led drama Dangerous Minds - could be released, because it samples his 1976 song “Pastime Paradise.” Ironically, the rapper himself was not happy with “Weird Al” Yankovic’s parody, “Amish Paradise,” and would not make peace with it until years later.

“A Whole New World” - Alan Menken, Tim Rice (Aladdin)

Alan Menken has won several awards for iconic, sweeping songs from some of the best animated Disney movies, including “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. The composer revealed in an interview with Jake Hamilton (co-host of the ReelBlend podcast) that the original title he had in mind was “The World At My Feet” until lyricist, Tim Rice, suggested that “the word ‘feet’ would be better not in the title of a Disney love song.”

“Goldfinger” - Shirley Bassey (Goldfinger)

We all know that the title track from Goldfinger (one of the all-time greatest Bond movie theme songs) is sung brilliantly by Welsh songstress Shirley Bassey, but less people are aware that a young Jimmy Page played guitar in the orchestra. The future Led Zeppelin founder recalled to GQ how Bassey performed the session in one take and, after holding the huge final note, ran out of breath and collapsed on the floor.

“The Power Of Love” - Huey Lewis & The News (Back To The Future)

Huey Lewis & The News wrote and performed two songs for 1985’s masterful time travel adventure, Back to the Future - most famously the Oscar nominated hit, “The Power of Love.” As Lewis recalled in a video for Rolling Stone, the musician makes a funny, uncredited cameo as a Battle of Bands judge who believes the rendition of the song that Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and his band perform for their audition is “too darn loud.”

“That Thing You Do!” - The Wonders (That Thing You Do!)

The titular, Oscar-nominated 1960s-style pop song from Tom Hanks’ 1996 directorial debut, That Thing You Do!, was actually written by Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger, who went on to compose Howard Stern’s theme music, became the musical director for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and other notable works. When he passed away from Covid-19 in 2020, the members of the fictional band from the film, The Wonders, reunited over Zoom for a livestream as a pandemic relief benefit.

“Rainbow Connection” - Jim Henson (The Muppet Movie)

One of the most celebrated achievements of prolific songwriter Paul Williams is “Rainbow Connection,” which Kermit the Frog (voiced by Jim Henson) performs in The Muppet Movie from 1979. In a video interview shot for The Tennessean in 2016, Williams told Bart Herbison that he and and co-writer Kenneth Asher wanted to give Kermit a song as heartwarming and “spiritual” as Jiminy Cricket’s “When You Wish Upon A Star” from 1940’s animated Disney classic Pinocchio, which served as a jumping-off point for the Oscar-nominated ballad.

There really is nothing like dropping the needle on your favorite movie soundtrack and reminiscing about the scenes in which each killer song appears. Now you have many more stories to associate them with.

There are certain people in the world that everybody seems to love and that, somehow through everything, actually seem to deserve all the admiration they are given. Dolly Parton is one of those people. It seems impossible not to love Dolly. She’s a fantastic talent, but beyond that, she’s nice to everybody, and she regularly tries to do good in the world, putting her name and her resources behind things that truly help people. And now it has happened again, as the theme park that bears her name, Dollywood, is about to begin covering 100% of college expenses for its employees. 

Beginning on February 24, employees, known as hosts at the park, of Dollywood looking to further their education can have 100% of the cost of tuition, fees, and books covered by Dollywood. And this isn’t just available to full-time employees. Part-time and seasonal workers can also take advantage of the program, and it’s available from the first day of employment. As the park’s official Twitter says, it’s a great reason to work there. Seasonal workers will also be able to take advantage of a new housing development set to open later this year. 

Dollywood Parks & Resorts certainly isn’t the first employer to cover college costs for employees, but this is without question one of the most generous programs of its kind, especially within the theme and amusement park sphere. Frequently these sorts of programs only cover a percentage of costs, or are only available to full-time employees who have worked there for a period of time, but the Dollywood program covers nearly all college costs and is available to basically anybody who works there.

The world didn’t need another reason to love Dolly Parton, but now we have one, which is one of the reasons the world loves Dolly Parton. The woman has made some of the best music ever. She’s a country music artist but she has fans in every genre and a lot of her music has crossed over. She had a hand in bringing Buffy the Vampire Slayer into the world. Dolly even donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University specifically to fund early work into what became the Moderna covid vaccine. She’s literally done it all.

And she also built a theme park, and it’s a really good one. Dollywood may not have quite the global reach of a Disney or a Universal but the location is consistently named as one of the best amusement parks in the country. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is a place you need to go if you’re a theme park fan.

This is certainly a huge win for current and future hosts of Dollywood. And it could end up being an even bigger deal than that. If other theme parks begin to offer similar perks in order to compete, Dolly Parton’s theme park may have just made the entire industry, where wages tend to be low, a better place. It’s honestly what we’ve come to expect from Dolly. 

What do Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Dwight Yoakam have in common? If you guessed they have all won multiple Grammys, Academy of Country Music Awards, and sold millions of records over the years, you’d be right. But that’s not what we’re getting at here. All three of those country music stars have also given great movie and TV performances throughout the respective careers, stealing the show in films like Steel Magnolias, Thief, and Sling Blade. But these three Nashville legends aren’t the only country singers to successfully make the jump from the world of music to the world of film and television. In fact, there are so many names we can’t even fit them all on this list…

Dolly Parton

There are few country singers or American icons as recognizable as Dolly Parton. The singer-songwriter, author, businesswoman, and philanthropist is mostly known for songs like “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene,” but Parton has also given some of the great film and TV performances for more than 40 years now.

Following a stretch of musical performances and interviews on morning news shows, variety shows, and awards ceremonies throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Dolly Parton made the jump to the acting world with the groundbreaking workplace comedy 9 to 5, in which she acted alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as three fed up women in the workplace who seek revenge against their tyrannical boss. Parton would receive several Golden Globe nominations for her performance and the hit song “9 to 5” which also netted her an Academy Award nomination. The success would continue with other hit movies The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Steel Magnolias, all while continuing her successful multi-faceted career in show business.

Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson, the first of three members of the country music supergroup The Highwaymen on this list (Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash are both on the way; Waylon Jennings never made the jump to acting unfortunately). Arguably the country singer with the most robust and celebrated film career of all time, Kristofferson has shown off his acting talents in scores of movies, TV shows, and even video games throughout his career, and even took home a Golden Globe for his portrayal of troubled musician John Norman Howard in the 1976 version of A Star Is Born. Early on in his acting career, Kristofferson had lead roles in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and later shared the screen with Jane Fonda in the 1981 political thriller Rollover.

Following a string of movies, TV shows, and chart-topping albums throughout the final decades of the 20th Century, Kris Kristofferson took on one of the biggest roles of his career when he portrayed Abraham Whistler in the successful Blade trilogy alongside Wesley Snipes as the titular “daywalker” vampire hunter.

Willie Nelson

Outlaw country singer and all-around American legend Willie Nelson will forever go down as one of the most prominent names in the music industry, having accumulated a total of 10 Grammys throughout his career that goes all the way back to 1956. The “Red Headed Stranger” would make the jump to the acting world following two decades of success in the music industry, making his on-screen debut in Sydney Pollack’s 1979 western The Electric Horseman alongside Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, and Valerie Perrine. In 1981, Nelson gave a heart-wrenching performance as terminally-ill jailbird David “Okla” Bertinneau in Michael Mann’s noir action thriller Thief alongside James Caan, Tuesday Weld, and Robert Prosky.

Willie Nelson has also appeared on several TV shows throughout his acting career, including a 1986 episode of Miami Vice where he played retired Texas Ranger Jake Pierson who makes a mess of an undercover drug operation. And like many other country singers from Texas, Nelson voiced a cartoon version of himself on the Fox animated series King of the Hill.

Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire, known to many as “The Queen of Country,” has sold millions upon millions of albums and taken home just about every type of award someone in the music industry can win throughout her career. McEntire was already a country music megastar by the time she took on the role of the eccentric survivalist with an arsenal of high-powered weaponry in the 1990 horror comedy Tremors, but her first film role showed that she could do more than sing chart-topping country songs.

In the years that followed, Reba McEntire appeared in movies like The Little Rascals and One Night at McCool’s before becoming an even bigger star with her venture into the world of sitcoms with the long-running series Reba. McEntire followed up the success of that series with various other film and television appearances throughout the following decades, and most recently portrayed Trish, aka, one of the funniest moments in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.

Dwight Yoakam

There are few country music singers from the final two decades of the 20th Century who were as popular or successful as Dwight Yoakam. With classics like “A Thousand Miles from Nowhere,” “Guitars, Cadillacs,” and “Streets of Bakersfield,” Yoakam established himself in the 1980s as one of the most unique and brash artists of his time. And with a history of acting in his high school days, it was only a matter of time before Yoakam tried his hand at acting professionally, and it’s safe to say it has been a rather successful venture.

One of Dwight Yoakam’s most memorable performances is that of the drunk and abusive Doyle Hargraves in Billy Bob Thornton’s Academy Award-winning 1996 drama Sling Blade. Add in a terrifying turn in David Fincher’s Panic Room and various other film appearances over the years and you have the makings of a great career.

Johnny Cash

The third and final member of The Highway Men to have a spot on this list, Johnny Cash is one of the most iconic country singers of all time and continues to sell countless records nearly 20 years after his passing. “The Man in Black” and his story were masterfully told in 2008 biopic Walk the Line, but the American music icon had a rather successful career in film and television even before Joaquin Phoenix portrayed him on the big screen.

Throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, Johnny Cash showed up in a number of western shows like Shotgun Slade, Wagon Train, The Rebel, and The Deputy, as well as movies like Five Minutes to Live which saw him take on the role of a hardened criminal at the center of a menacing plot. Cash, who had several various variety shows and specials over the years, continued to take on small roles on shows like Little House on the Prairie, Stagecoach, and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw got into acting not long after his successful country music career got underway, and has continued to show up from time to time in various film and television projects. In 2004, McGraw, who had already accumulated multiple awards in the country music industry and sold millions of records, proved that he had some remarkable acting chops with a commanding performance in Peter Berg’s sports drama Friday Night Lights. Portraying the alcoholic and abusive Charles Billingsley, McGraw did a tremendous job of pulling off a complicated man who just couldn’t let go of his glory days in this all-time high school football classic. Five years later, he would play a much gentler role when he showed up in The Blind Side alongside Sandra Bullock.

Faith Hill

Faith Hill, who is married to country superstar Tim McGraw, has been one of the most successful figures in the music industry since breaking out onto the scene with her 1993 debut. On top of having beloved songs on movie soundtracks like Ron Howard’s 2000 live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Hill has made quite a few film and television appearances throughout her career.

The majority of these credits are for television specials or performances on Saturday Night Live, but Faith Hill has proven she can act with the best of them. After appearing on shows like Touched by an Angel and Promised Land in the late 1990s, Hill gave a brief yet memorable performance as Sarah Sunderson in the 2005 remake of The Stepford Wives. She is also set to star in the Yellowstone prequel series 1883 alongside her husband.

George Strait

George Strait, aka “The King of Country,” is best known for staples like “Amarillo By Morning,” “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” and “I Can Still Make Cheyenne,” and more than 40 other chart-topping hits, but the Texas singer-songwriter has also appeared in multiple movies and TV shows when he’s not selling out massive football stadiums with his crowd-pleasing performances.

In 1992, when he was in the middle of the one of the hottest runs in the history of country music, George Strait landed a starring role in the western drama Pure Country, in which he played Wyatt “Dusty” Chandler, a successful musicians who attempts to leave the limelight to live a simpler life on a ranch. He would later play a version of himself in the 2010 sequel Pure Country 2: The Gift. And then we can’t forget his one-off appearance on King of the Hill.

Randy Travis

And then there is Randy Travis, the singer who became an international sensation with his new spin on the classic style of country in the 1980s. In addition to recording 20 albums and releasing countless chart-topping singles throughout his musical career, Travis had a steady stream of acting gigs starting in the early 1990s. His film credits include the 1998 Kurt Russell-led action thriller Black Dog, westerns like The Shooter, and multiple television shows like Matlock, Frasier, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. One of Travis’ best performances can be heard in a 1998 episode of Hey Arnold! in which he provided the singing voice for the character Mr. Hyunh as he starts his country music career.

This is just a small sampling of the great country music singers who have gone on to give outstanding performances on the silver screen and television sets around the world. There are classic country singers like Glen Campbell, Marty Robbins, and Jerry Reed, as well as more modern voices like LeAnn Rimes, Sturgill Simpson, and Taylor Swift. And who knows, maybe we’ll see a country star or two in some of the upcoming 2021 movie releases.

In the months following the Hulu documentary centered on her life, Britney Spears has steadily become more vocal about her conservatorship. She wants out of it or, at the very least, wants her father Jamie Spears to be removed as co-conservator over her finances. Her new lawyer is already on the case, with filings in court to permanently remove the dadager. Of late, though, country music singer Dolly Parton has weighed in on her contemporary’s legal battle.

Dolly Parton often has a Dollyism or two of positive words to spare, as Kim Kardashian knows. Well, now Britney Spears knows it, too. When asked about Spears’s ongoing conservatorship battle, Parton told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live:

The country music icon isn't the only one rooting for Britney Spears. Celebrities like Christina Aguilera and Paris Hilton have publicly voiced their support for the singer, as rumors continue to circulate that an A-List team is squadding up to help fight the conservatorship. Even recently, Spears’ co-conservator over her personal matters, Jodi Montgomery, filed documents in court that second the notion that Jamie Spears should be removed from his position.

As for Dolly Parton, who's an EGOT by nominations if not by wins, she empathizes with Britney Spears in her ongoing legal troubles because she's had her share before as well. She said:

The lawsuit Dolly Parton is referring to isn't exactly a conservatorship case but still dealt with someone very close to her. According to Taste of Country, Parton’s beef with Porter Wagoner began when they were in the same band of the 1960s and 70s. Apparently, Parton wouldn't put up with Wagoner's supposed chauvinistic tendencies, and she left the band in 1974. At which point, Wagoner sued her for breach of contract, which eventually got settled in court.

Though the details were different in Dolly Parton’s case, it is still reminiscent of the contentious and personal dynamic happening currently in Britney Spears’ conservatorship. Spears has stated that her father is overworking her and even likened the situation to a “sex trafficking” ring. Furthermore, Spears has begun publicly feuding with little sister Jamie Lynn Spears, with insinuations flying that the Zoey 101 star was one of the people closest to her who left her "drowning" under the conservatorship.

The fight over the conservatorship is still ongoing. But for Britney Spears or anyone else in a tough row, it doesn’t hurt to listen to the always wise words of Dolly Parton: “I never tried quitting and I never quit trying.”

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love Dolly Parton? The 75-year-old “Jolene” singer has put out iconic songs, starred in fan-favorite movies and enlightened us with the occasional “Dollyism.” While the entertainer continues to act and sing today, she’s also become a delightful presence on social media, posting sweet updates and cool throwbacks. Well, one of her more recent posts is a bit of both, as it sees her successfully recreating her famous ‘70s Playboy cover for a special occasion.

Since 1966, Dolly Parton has been married to Carl Thomas Dean, who has mostly stayed out of the spotlight in the midst of the attention his famous wife gets. Despite the fact that they two are rarely seen together in public, they seem to have a loving and devoted relationship. And it’s this love that prompted Parton to make a Playboy-centric birthday surprise for her hubby. Because Dean loved her original Playboy cover, Parton decided to have a photo shoot and recreate it as a present. You can check out the singer’s Instagram post, in which she lays out her plans, down below:

Dolly Parton mentioned that her husband still views her as a “hot chick,” and it’s hard to disagree with that assertion. At 75, Parton still dazzles in the Playboy bunny outfit and would still be a perfect fit for a cover. The singer’s look aside, the sentiment behind the gift is incredibly sweet. While she doesn’t share exactly how husband Carl Thomas Dean reacted, I think it’s fair to assume he was pleased with his gift.

The original Playboy cover featuring Dolly Parton hit shelves in October of 1978 and is arguably still one of the magazine’s most iconic shoots. Believe it or not, ahead of that shoot, Parton had reportedly turned down Hugh Hefner’s massive company a few times. This stemmed from her desire not to appear nude and, in time, Playboy agreed to the conditions.

In the years since, Dolly Parton has, on multiple occasions, expressed interest in appearing on the cover once again. However, the magazine discontinued its print issues last year. With this in mind, Parton’s recent photo shoot is really special.

Her birthday gift to her husband just further proves that Dolly Parton is still full of surprises. In the past year alone, fans have learned a number of things about the songstress. For instance, many were hyped when they discovered that her production company had a hand in bringing Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the small screen. Parton received equal praise when it was reported that she’d made a large donation to Vanderbilt University for COVID-19 research.

Needless to say, the world just doesn’t deserve Dolly Parton, as she continues to prove why she’s considered a national treasure by so many. And after her Playboy recreation, let’s hope this national treasure gets a shot at being on another high-profile magazine cover very soon.

Following her split from Kanye West, Kim Kardashian has taken to single life the best way she knows how. That's right, by bringing her bikini A-game. In her latest thirst post, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star referenced the wise and sage words of none other than Dolly Parton. And surprisingly enough, the “Jolene” singer sent a sweet reply in the comments.

Kim Kardashian's bikini pic was captioned with a quote attributed to Dolly Parton, which urges one to not forget about the grander scheme of “making a life” as opposed to “making a living.” (It’s kind of ironic, considering the Kardashian-Jenners have made a living out of their lives being filmed.) Kardashian is seen in the post lounging on a boat out in the middle of a lake. It's a perfectly choreographed encapsulation of someone enjoying life – and Parton herself seems to agree. She wrote to Kardashian:

A personal reply from Dolly Parton has got to be reason #6444 why Kim Kardashian already has a pretty blessed life. (I can practically hear the singer’s Tennessee twang saying “sweetie” to her.) Luckily for Kardashian, too, she has the means to “take a little time” for herself, as she also described in the caption. Check out the Parton-inspired bikini pic below:

The billionaire businesswoman (and soon-to-be lawyer) probably needs a little R&R (as do we all), given the relentless drama and controversy she's been faced with this year. Divorce proceedings are currently underway with ex-husband Kanye West. She also had been accused by Travis Barker’s ex-wife of cheating with him while the two were married, which the reality star publicly denied. Moreover, Kardashian’s KKW Beauty is at a bit of a standstill amidst a lawsuit and rebrand happening.

But much like how the Dolly Parton reference warns against, Kim Kardashian has been pretty focused on work in the past few months. Keeping Up with the Kardashians took its final bow, but another reality show is slated for Hulu this year. Kardashian has also been busy expanding her SKIMS shapewear company. So much so, that it is now the official underwear, sleepwear and loungewear for female U.S. athletes at the Olympics.

However, Dolly Parton’s reach goes beyond the likes of just Kim Kardashian. The iconic Grammy Award-winning singer has influenced artists both old and new. In 2019, she even released an 8-part series, called Dolly Parton's Heartstrings, on Netflix based on her memories that influenced her musical catalog. Late last year, she also released Dolly Parton’s Christmas on The Square, which has in fact been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie.

Clearly, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is living her life to the fullest. In a lot of bikinis and form-fitting “Old Kim” throwback styles, that is. But as another Dollyism has it, "Don’t judge me by the cover ’cause I’m a real good book!"

Have you started your Christmas wish lists yet? Netflix has, and this year, the platform is doubling down on the Southern charm of Ms. Dolly Parton with an upcoming holiday musical after her Heartstrings series contended at the 2020 Emmys. The 74-year-old Jolene singer will soon grace Netflix with an original musical called Christmas on the Square.

Dolly Parton will play an angel to a humbug-type, who returns to a small town to evict a piece of land full of townsfolk after the death of her father. Here’s a few quick things about Christmas on the Square to know:

Dolly Wrote The Music

The family musical will feature fourteen original songs written by Dolly Parton, along with the icon starring as Angel and executive producing Christmas on the Square. The movie is coming out not long after the singer drops her first new holiday album in 30 years, A Holly Dolly Christmas. The album features Dolly singing classics such as I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and features duets with Miley Cyrus, Michael Buble and Willie Nelson. It also features at least one track from the new musical Christmas On The Square. You can listen to it below if you’d like a sneak peek:

That sounds adorable and very much on brand for Dolly! We’ll have to wait and see what other new holiday songs await the soundtrack.

It’s Being Directed By Debbie Allen

As reported by THR, Christmas on the Square will be directed by Fame’s Lydia Grant, Debbie Allen, who has been acting, producing and directing for years since starring in the ‘80s TV show. Most recently, Allen has played Dr. Catherine Fox on Grey’s Anatomy, along with directing a number of recent episodes over the years. Christmas on the Square is the first movie she’s directed in 25 years, the last time being Out-of-Sync with LL Cool J.

It Has An Awesome Cast

An especially exciting element about Dolly Parton’s Christmas movie is the cast that has been assembled. Mamma Mia and Chicago’s Christine Baranski will play the lead, and Regina Fulle will play the Scrooge of the film, who returns to her hometown to threaten the homes of people who live there in order to replace it with a mall.

They'll be joined by Hair actor Treat Williams as the owner of the town’s general store, Black-ish’s Ruby Jenifer Lewis as a beauty shop owner, Arrow’s Josh Segarra as the local pastor, Roswell New Mexico’s Jeanine Mason as one of Dolly’s angels in training, The Voice and American Idol contestant Matthew Johnson as the owner of a local bar, and young Hidden Figures actress Selah Kimbro Jones as Johnson's character's daughter.

Christmas on the Square premieres on Netflix on November 22. Until then, check out what’s coming to Netflix in October. On October 6, another Dolly project is hitting the platform too: her 2019 documentary Dolly Parton: Here I Am.

Having made its debut back in 2005, Squidbillies is one of the longest-running Adult Swim shows still in production, having even secured its Season 13 renewal before Season 12 aired in 2019. In a somewhat shocking turn of events, however, Squidbillies will be moving forward without its longtime star Unknown Hinson, real name Stuart D. Baker, who was fired from the adult animated series after he made offensive social media posts concerning country music legend (and secret Buffy producer) Dolly Parton.

Following the publication of a news story in which Dolly Parton expressed her support for the Black Lives Matter movement, Unknown Hinson went on a tear on Facebook with posts in which he referred to Parton as a "slut" and a "Self-Racist." (More below.) After the expected backlash that follows those kinds of posts, Squidbillies co-creators Dave Willis and Jim Fortier released their statement in which Hinson's termination was revealed. In their words:

That decision, regardless of the reasoning, sets up a gigantic change for Squidbillies, for which Unknown Hinson has voiced the backwoods lead character Early Cuyler for its entire run. Considering the trucker hat-wearing patriarch has been a core part of the show, it's kind of a mystery how Squidbillies will move on in his absence. To remove the character altogether would likely anger more fans than those who are already peeved that Hinson got fired. But then to replace the musician and voice actor would also invite its own criticisms, depending on who was brought in.

Though all of the posts have now been deleted, Unknown Hinson's angry posts started with this response to the news story about Dolly Parton's BLM allegiance:

At some point after that message was posted, Unknown Hinson's post was deleted, which set him off on a cancel-culture rant against liberals, calling them "un-americans," and asking them to unfriend him on the social media site. That thread ended with a final message about Dolly Parton, as read below (complete with that "speach" typo).

Amidst the backlash against him for posting those messages against Dolly Parton, Unknown Hinson went public with an apology for having reacted so strongly out of anger.

Lest anyone forget, Squidbillies is the one Adult Swim show that featured a vocal performance from David Allen Coe, a musician beloved among outlaw country fans, but also one that has long been criticized for some of his songs' racist language. Coe has always denied the racism accusations, however. One has to wonder how that woman who freaked out hard about Adult Swim would feel about all of this.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more on Squidbillies' future and what the creators will do following Unknown Hinson's firing. No date has been announced yet for Season 13 on Adult Swim, so it'll be interesting to see how long it takes for those new episodes to arrive now. While waiting, head to our 2020 Fall TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning episodes are coming soon.

It’s no secret Dolly Parton has had an incredibly accomplished career. The 74-year-old is a country music icon, famed star of 1980's 9 to 5 with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, businesswoman, philanthropist… and Buffy the Vampire Slayer producer. Wait, what?

That’s right. This week, out of nowhere, a bunch of fans shared their shock when they learned that Dolly Parton had a role in bringing the cult television show to the small screen through her production company Sandollar Entertainment. It was right in front of fans’ faces the whole time too, since the company’s logo shows up at the end of each Buffy episode. Check out this response:

Fans of the seven-season series were surprised but delighted to hear the news that wasn’t particularly new information or a “secret” per se. I guess Dolly Parton is so famous that she doesn’t need to mention the likes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to still have an influence on its birth. Here’s another fan reaction:

Another Twitter user reacted by saying she assumed Dolly was already part of everything good in the world “so this tracks.” Everyone processed the information differently, one fan thanked the singer with these words:

It’s a peculiar pairing that just doesn’t seem like it would happen, but here we are. Dolly Parton co-founded Sandollar with her friend and former business partner Sandy Gallin back in 1986. The company also produced films such as Father of the Bride and Fly Away Home before dipping its toes into the franchise with 1992’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie.

As you may know, the movie that inspired the television show was essentially a box office bomb. But it was Sandollar’s Gail Berman who had faith in the property and moved forward the concept of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television show. Now it doesn’t sound like Dolly Parton herself was directly involved in work on Buffy but, if she had not started up Sandollar, we might have certainly lived in a world without the series.

That’s not the only connection between Dolly and Buffy, either. Apparently, the vampire slayer shared the same birthday as the “Jolene” singer as well! Perhaps as a tribute to the producer? Buffy the Vampire Slayer just reached its 23rd anniversary and could be turning to Disney+ based on a recent hint by the platform.

The series that began in 1997 and ran until 2003 kickstarted the career of Joss Whedon, who would go on to direct massive blockbusters such as The Avengers and Justice League, along with actors Sarah Michelle Gellar, David Boreanaz and Alyson Hannigan.

Everyone say, "Thank you, Dolly!" Buffy the Vampire Slayer is currently available to stream in its entirety over on Hulu.

Kenny Rogers, the country music singer behind legendary hits like “Lady” and “The Gambler” has died. He was 81 years old.

The singer and actor’s career lasted more than six decades and resulted in countless accolades, including three Grammy awards. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. In an official statement (via Variety) from the Rogers family, his cause and time of death were revealed:

Throughout his career, Kenny Rogers recorded 65 albums and sold more than 165 million records. In the 1950s, he debuted as a soloist, before joining several groups, including First Edition. In 1976, he once again went solo and began to amass a series of pop-country hits. His numerous duets with artists like Sheena Easton, Bob Seger, and Lionel Richie further cemented his power as a crossover artist and hitmaker. He also lent his voice to the iconic “We Are The World” collaboration.

Kenny Rogers also found success as an actor in dozens of small roles throughout his career, most notably in the 1982 racing film Six Pack and in multiple made-for-TV movies based on his song “The Gambler.” He also played himself in the 1995 CBS movie Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story. In addition to appearing in films, his music has also played a prominent role in Hollywood. His songs have been featured in some of the most memorable moments from Stranger Things, The Big Lebowski and Urban Cowboy, just to name a few.

Some of Kenny Rogers’ friends and contemporaries have already addressed his passing on social media. Singer and long-time collaborator Richard Marx was devastated:

And Dolly Parton, who co-wrote the iconic “Islands in the Stream,” shared a video message commemorating the man she called a “true friend”:

The official Kenny Rogers YouTube channel shared a video, called “Kenny Rogers Farewell,” shortly after news about his death broke. The clip was originally posted in 2015 and features the singer announcing his retirement from touring. Still, the sentiments he shared then feel especially poignant now:

Kenny Rogers is survived by his wife, Wanda Rogers, and his five children. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, his family is planning a small, private memorial at an unspecified time in the future.

Dolly Parton doesn't need to prove anything to anybody. The country singer-songwriter-actress-producer-businesswoman-philanthropist has excelled in numerous ways throughout the past few decades, and her wealth of success only continues to shine. But she continued to become the subject of dating rumors related to her best friend, Judy Ogle. Rumor has it, Ogle is actually Dolly's partner, and Parton is not actually romantically intertwined with her husband of more than 50 years, Carl Dean. But Dolly Parton is claiming those ongoing media reports about her sexuality are simply not true. During a recent interview, Parton again tried to put the rumors to rest, saying there's no real validity to this perpetual piece of gossip directed her way.

Dolly Parton's latest response to these dating rumors came up in an expansive and personal interview with The Sun. These rumors have long been a source of frustration for the musician, according to the publication, as they continue to sprout up even when Parton tries to take them down. But she has nothing but great admiration and continued support for all her fans and friends who are LGBT.

The legendary singer just has a very intimate, non-romantic relationship with her best friend, according to her own admission. And Dolly Parton says it's hard for women to have such close bonds without rumors spinning. Parton and Judy Ogle have been best friends for 64 years, and they have a close-knit bond that only comes for several decades spent together. But Parton continues to insist that the relationship is simply platonic in nature, and while she calls Judy her "girlfriend," they are not actually romantic.

As Dolly Parton said in the statement found above, she has been outspokenly supportive of the LGBT community and she has been vocal about loving everyone for who they are and who they wish to be. If these rumors held any truth, they would certainly come as a surprise to her many fans that she would be holding back on such a personal piece of information, particularly in 2019. But Dolly Parton claims this story is simply "gossip" and not true.

This is certainly not the first time these rumors regarding Dolly Parton's sexuality and relationship with Judy Ogle have been discussed by the singer. Parton released a similar statement six years earlier when the topic was brought up, and her response then echoes her thoughts on the matter now.

And there is a chance that, no matter what Dolly Parton says about the matter, she will continue to battle these rumors -- whether she wants to or not. It can be hard to be a celebrity at times. In any case, this interview provided Parton with yet another opportunity to dismiss these allegations about her.

9 to 5 is a comedic classic, but that doesn't mean that plans to reboot or revive the movie haven't been around for decades. With another stab being taken at bringing the story into the modern era via an actual sequel, we've heard how Dolly Parton, along with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, might come back for the new film. Apparently, the current plan is to have a new trio of wronged ladies seek out the originals for a bit of advice. According to Parton:

In case you don't know the joys of 9 to 5 (and shame on you, if that's the case), the film focuses on three women, Judy, Violet and Doralee (Fonda, Tomlin and Parton respectively), who work for a company with highly sexist and generally unfriendly business practices, and also happen to have a boss, Frank (Dabney Coleman), who firmly embraces those practices and directly sexually harasses Doralee. After becoming unlikely buds when work woes get them down and bonding over how they'd like to take care of Frank and make the company better, things take an even more hilarious turn when they find themselves kidnapping their "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" of a boss and secretly running the company.

If this sounds like the kind of idea that would drive disgruntled workers to the theater in droves, you're right. 9 to 5 came out in 1980 and made almost $104 million dollars, which led to it being listed as one of the highest grossing comedies of all time. Along with giving the world Dolly Parton's catchy hit song "9 to 5" and fully launching her into broad pop culture stardom, the movie also spawned a TV show of the same name that ran for five seasons on ABC, and later in first run syndication, from 1982 through 1988. A Broadway musical, with new songs by Parton, opened in 2009 and received 15 prestigious Drama Desk Award nominations, the most for any production in a single year, and also scored four Tony nominations.

Dolly Parton also mentioned, in her interview with Entertainment Weekly, that Pat Resnick (who wrote the original film and the stage show) is working on this new film with Rashida Jones. While Jones is best known for her work as an actress on television and in movies like Parks and Recreation, Angie Tribeca and I Love You, Man, she's also worked behind the camera and wrote the film Celeste and Jesse Forever, as well as an episode of Black Mirror and the recent documentary about her father Quincy Jones, Quincy. And, it's pretty clear that these two know that getting the original 9 to 5 trio of badass ladies to join in on the fun is a good idea.

With so many reboots, remakes, revivals and the like already coming down the pike or currently on TV and in theaters, it's become pretty clear that for every audience member that enjoys reliving these stories (or enjoying them for the first time), there are dozens who would rather just watch the original and are either actively against favorites from days gone by being updated or simply don't understand why so many remakes / reimaginings / long-awaited sequels are happening now.

Of course, everyone who makes a movie or TV show is looking to get as many eyeballs on it as possible, so the idea of finding a way to bring a classic that was beloved by many back to the screen seems like the perfect way to ensure an automatic audience. And, it's clear that Pat Resnick and Rashida Jones know what they're about by starting with the idea of getting Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda to reprise their roles from the first movie.

Part of what makes 9 to 5 so funny and memorable is not just the basic performances of the leads, but the friendship that quickly grows between the women, who are all in a bad place when it comes to their careers. The camaraderie between the three is what really makes 9 to 5 sing, and as much as I'm sure that every effort will be made, when casting the young leads for the new film, to find a new group of ladies who have the same rapport that Parton, Fonda and Tomlin did, you simply can't go wrong by adding them to the cast to bring in some of that familiar zing.

Another way that the writers and stars are hoping to have the 9 to 5 sequel connect with modern audiences is that the topics the original film covered are still relevant. Dolly Parton mentioned in her interview that the #MeToo movement now has many women standing up for themselves and their rights, especially in the workplace, so the comedy can be used, once again, to highlight important issues while still giving people a little bit of a break from bad news, something we have always needed comedies to help us with.

While I am always skeptical when folks start talking about rebooting or remaking classics, it does seem like the team working on 9 to 5 has the right idea, so I'm willing to give this a shot if it continues to develop. It's also a good sign that Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda are willing to jump back in as long as they like the story that Pat Resnick and Rashida Jones come up with, so here's hoping that they create something as funny, weird and meaningful and the original.

The 9 to 5 sequel is still in the early stages of development, so there's no word right now on when we could see it on the big screen. But, be sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend, and we'll let you know about any updates on the project as they become available to us.

There’s nothing like the holiday season for made-for-TV movies. With many regular series on hiatuses until 2016, and viewer heartstrings just waiting to be plucked, nothing compares to a made-for-TV movie to fill an evening. NBC managed to do just that for a shocking amount of viewers with Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors on December 10.

Coat of Many Colors drew in 12.84 million viewers and a respectable 1.8 rating in the valuable 18–49 demographic, according to Deadline. The movie was based on the Dolly Parton song of the same name that was inspired by her upbringing in Tennessee. Coat of Many Colors was the first in what will be a series of NBC movies based on popular Dolly Parton songs. Next up will be a special based upon “Jolene.”

The numbers are particularly impressive for Coat of Many Colors, considering that the official trailer made the movie look like basically the saddest thing ever. Sure, no holiday film is complete without some level of heartbreak to be overcome by the final credits, but Coat of Many Colors looked as though producers at NBC had filled in a Mad Lib with only the saddest nouns and verbs in the dictionary. Check it out!

Luckily, viewers were not so bummed out by the trailer that the drawing power of Dolly Parton failed to park them on the couch for an evening. Although Coat of Many Colors was by no means a traditional musical, it may have benefited by the wild success of The Wiz Live! that absolutely dominated in the ratings the previous week. Either way, NBC producing ambitious content for television has turned out to be pretty great for the network this holiday season.

In fact, Coat of Many Colors enabled NBC to win the night in the game of television ratings. It was the most-watched movie on broadcast TV in three and a half years, since Jesse Stone: Benefit Of Doubt drew in 12.93 million viewers for CBS in May of 2012. It was also the highest-rated movie among viewers in the 18–49 demographic in nearly five years, since The Lost Valentine earned a 2.3 rating in January of 2011 for CBS.

The numbers for Coat of Many Colors are in no way a guarantee of success for the rest of the made-for-TV movies in the Dolly Parton lineup, but the ratings for the first installment may mean that NBC has found the perfect recipe for sentimental success in the holiday season.

Most news outlets may still be talking about the shopping weekend, but today Nightline has given Dolly Parton a chance to take the main stage and hopefully, finally, give the country singer and icon a chance to quash the long-term rumors she is in a lesbian relationship and is less-than-devoted to her longtime husband.

Rumors have abounded for years that Parton is dating her childhood bestie, Judy Ogle, despite the fact that Parton has been happily married for 46 years to her notoriously event-shy husband, Carl Thomas Dean. According to TMZ, the singer says she has known her best friend for most of her life and can relate to Ogle on a level of tight friendship, but the relationship doesn’t go any further than that.

More humorously, the 66-year-old songwriter recounted a tale of a time she spent commiserating with none other than Oprah, a woman who has also dealt with lesbian rumors over the years. The closeness Oprah shares with her best pal Gayle King has also spawned rumors of a sexual nature, but now Parton wants to clear the air for good. She is happily married to her husband, and she is not a lesbian. So, quit yapping about the iconic singer like those rumors are fact, if you please.

photo credit @ABC News

There's no doubt that this will be the most exciting news you'll hear for at least few years. As I'm sure most of you are true film fans, you no doubt have been following the sky rocketing stardom of Heidi Montag, who got her start by being blonde and dumb on a little "show" called The Hills and parlayed that into an immediate failure of a pop singing career. She then visited talk show after talk show with her terrible husband Spencer Pratt (seriously, his name literally means "a stupid or foolish person") trying to convince America that Jesus would be totally ok with her getting 98% naked for Playboy.

If after that mess of a life she's been leading you have found some way to convince yourself that she's not an abhorrent waste of air and space, this news will push you over that ledge. Montag recently announced to People that she not only has written a screenplay, but is hoping to star in the as-yet-untitled production as well. That's not the amazing part though. Here's the plot line in her own words:

Beyond the initial surprise that she has the brain capacity to write anything other than her own signature on a check to her plastic surgeon, it's a bit of a shock that she sounds like she thinks this will actually get made and that a film like this will "Launch her career." The movie will probably get made, but this will no doubt have the straight-to-DVD budget and effects to put it at the same level as Shark Attack 3: Megalodon and Red Water. Even such a monument to vapidity as Heidi Montag has got to know that no one would touch this with 100 foot pole. Not even if she waggled her $15,000 rack at them. Not to mention that somehow she thinks this will be the first beach comedy involving a shark attack. They're all comedies, Heidi. Some of them just don't mean to be.

If this movie gets a theatrical release I'll eat a print of it.

A few years ago the news that Hollywood is remaking the Burt Reynolds, Dolly Parton classic The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas would have sent us all running for our pitchforks and torches. Now all I can say is… eh, at least it isn’t Hitchcock. I wonder if it’ll be in 3D?

The news comes from Variety where they say they’ve hired the folks behind Legally Blonde to modernize the 1982 film. The original starred Burt Reynolds as a town sheriff and Dolly Parton as a madame who work together to stop a holy roller crusader from shutting down the Chicken Ranch, famed establishment of ill repute. That means you could get a whore there. It was based on a musical, and so the movie was a musical, which explains Dolly’s involvement.

For the redo they’re keeping the music in, though it could be different music. Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith, the aforementioned Legally Blonde masterminds, seem an odd choice to write a movie about the virtues of whores, but they did write The House Bunny and that’s pretty much the same thing. Countdown till Queen Latifah gets cast as Dolly Parton’s replacement starts now.