The Life of Country Music Icon Dolly Parton

In 1984, she starred with Sylvester Stallone in Rhinestone, a musical comedy about a country singer trying to turn a New York cab driver into a performer. After the success of 9 to 5, the film was expected to continue her Hollywood momentum, but it received weak reviews and became a disappointment.

The setback showed the limits of her early movie crossover and proved that her charm alone could not guarantee a hit. Still, she remained a major entertainment figure with music, television, and public goodwill behind her, and Nashville was about to recognize the skill that had started everything.