As a devout lover of biopics, the second they officially announce one for the queen Dolly Parton, consider me seated with a large bucket of popcorn and a Diet Coke by my side.
Following her devastating August 25 passing after a brief battle with cancer, news of Parton’s remaining ventures quickly began making the rounds. If there’s one thing about Dolly, it’s that she was a fierce businesswoman who seemingly had her hand in just about every opportunity possible.
Her very own travel stop opened just a few months before her death, followed more recently by Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel and Life of Many Colors Museum, which opened earlier this week.
Continuing her legacy, her longtime manager Danny Nozell shared in a statement to The Times that she still had a lot left up her sleeve for fans to enjoy: “Ever the planner, Dolly worked with the team that she handpicked, for the past several years to build a project roadmap that will guide us for decades to come.” Some of these projects included Dolly’s Dog Treats, Bedding & Home Decor, her original musical opening in January, an animated series based on her “Billy the Kid” book franchise, a docuseries, and most importantly— a biopic.
With the biopic reportedly currently in the works, there’s, of course, speculation on who will portray the iconic, beloved figure, and according to an insider from Radar Online, the lineup is an… interesting one… to say the least. They shared that the entertainment insider said American Idol winner and “Jesus Take The Wheel” singer Carrie Underwood is currently in the running as one of the favorites to play Dolly.
While Carrie may absolutely crush a rendition of “I Will Always Love You”, I can’t say I see the resemblance enough to be able to pull off Miss Parton (besides maybe her 5’3″ height). Ten years ago, the blonde-haired country star might’ve felt like a stronger fit, but even then, Underwood doesn’t necessarily have the acting resume you’d expect for a role this massive.
Additionally, they suggested Sabrina Carpenter, who, given her short stature, acting prowess, and “Please, Please, Please” duet alongside Dolly, could be a slightly more viable option. That being said, while Carpenter could likely handle both the acting and singing demands, she’s also not a country artist, and I could see how some die-hard Dolly fans might take issue with that.
Then we get into the far-fetched picks, in my humble opinion, including the controversial “Euphoria” actress Sydney Sweeney and Hilary Duff? Don’t worry, I’m just as perplexed trying to picture either blonde lady portraying Dolly too.
There’s no denying that whoever lands the iconic role will be under a microscope. After all, how do you fill the shoes of THE Dolly Parton? Fans are going to expect whoever plays her to nail the look, the voice, the charm, the accent (and, yes, definitely the chest) all while bringing as little controversial baggage to the role as possible.
Nonetheless, out of the lot, Carrie is apparently the frontrunner: “Carrie Underwood is one name that keeps coming up because of her similar personality and stage presence to Dolly.” Radar Online posted the quote to their social media, and it’s safe to say people were not fond of the concept:
While I’m not entirely convinced any of these ladies will be taking on the role, if Parton were still alive and sitting in the casting room— though Lord knows she probably left behind a pre-recorded video detailing exactly who she wanted for the role— I have a feeling there are a few actresses she would’ve fancied playing her.
In a 2019 interview with Elle, she stated that Reese Witherspoon or Scarlett Johansson would be a good fit. Then, in 2023, she told Insider that her goddaughter Miley Cyrus “would be great,” adding, “She’s tall, but you can’t really tell that in a movie, and she’d have to put on some weight, and get some bigger boobs.”
The Hannah Montana star might have to work on raising her voice a bit and toning down some of that signature rasp, but I’m sure Dolly would get a kick out of watching the transformation from heaven. I also personally think they could also keep the momentum going with Dolly’s Broadway leading lady, Katie Rose Clarke, and give her a shot at bringing the role to the big screen.