Tributes from '9 to 5' Co-Stars
Dolly Parton, the iconic singer-songwriter and actress, died Tuesday at the age of 80, as reported by Page Six. Her '9 to 5' co-stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda paid separate tributes on August 25, according to Vulture.
Tomlin wrote on X: "Friend. Songwriter. The Great Harmonizer of Humanity. Dolly. Dolly. Dolly. Forever Dolly." She also posted on Instagram a photo from the 1980 premiere of '9 to 5' at the Sutton Theater with the caption "No words…💔," as reported by Page Six.
Fonda, who described herself as "devastated" upon learning of Parton's passing, wrote a longer homage on social media. She recalled Parton's multifaceted personality: "She was many things…lyricist, songstress, player of many instruments, writer, prankster, visionary, loyal friend, who'd never go to bed before she and her friends had laughed so hard they'd have to cross their legs." Fonda also shared a cheeky memory of Parton mooning Kenny Rogers' home, and she asked fans to watch the final episode of 'Grace and Frankie,' where Parton appears as an angel.
A Bond Forged on Set
The three actresses met while starring in the 1980 workplace comedy '9 to 5,' in which they played office workers plotting revenge against their sexist boss, played by Dabney Coleman, who died in 2024 at age 92. In the film, Fonda played Judy Bernly, a woman who joined the office after a divorce, and Tomlin played Violet Newstead, a widow passed over for promotion, as noted by Vulture.
Parton wrote and performed the film's theme song, which earned an Oscar nomination and two Grammys, according to Page Six. The song became an anthem for office workers and women's rights, and it was later featured in a musical theater adaptation with a book by Patricia Resnick.
Remembering Parton's Kindness and Talent
Patricia Resnick, who wrote the story for '9 to 5' and co-wrote the screenplay with Colin Higgins, remembered Parton fondly. She told Page Six that Parton "would write a song faster than anyone I've ever known," and recalled how she would work for 12 hours, return to her trailer to write another song, bake brownies for the cast and crew, and then come out to sing 'Happy Birthday.' Resnick also said she never heard Parton raise her voice or say anything negative about anyone.
Megan Hilty, who played Parton's character on Broadway, posted a tribute on Instagram, saying she was "so grateful to have been in her orbit" and called Parton "this actual angel," as reported by Page Six. Publicist Wayne Wolfe also praised Parton, telling Page Six she was "by far the most lovely soul I've ever worked with" and that "she was the same Dolly" whether alone or with a thousand people.
Parton's Connection to LGBTQ+ Fans
In her tribute, Fonda addressed Parton's gay and trans fans directly: "To her gay and trans fans, I want you to know that she loved you. You know that without me telling you." She added, "She loved all her fans and they are legion. And you know she doesn't want y'all to mourn now. Dress up and celebrate her spirit."
The Los Angeles Times, in an opinion piece, highlighted Parton's significance to the LGBTQ+ community. The article noted that Parton wrote and sang the Oscar-nominated song "Travelin' Thru" from the 2005 film 'Transamerica,' about a transgender woman, and collaborated with her goddaughter Miley Cyrus on "Rainbowland," a tribute to gay pride. It also quoted Parton from 2023: "I have some of everybody in my own immediate family and in my circle of employees. I've got transgender people. I've got gays. I've got lesbians. I know and love them all, and I do not judge.… That's who they are. They cannot help that any more than I can help being Dolly Parton."
The piece also cited a Human Rights Campaign analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data showing that 12% of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+, and it noted that LGBTQ+ rights have come under increasing attack, making Parton's allyship particularly meaningful.