Dolly Parton's '80s TV Show Broke A Ratings Records Before Being Canceled After One Season
The Queen of Country herself, Dolly Parton made television history with a short-lived series back in the '80s. Here's what record she broke.
In 1987, country music icon Dolly Parton made history with her own weekly variety series titled "Dolly." The show, which aired on ABC, boasted an impressive premiere audience of 39.47 million viewers, a record that stood for over two decades until CBS's "Undercover Boss" surpassed it in 2009. "Dolly" aimed to revive the vintage variety-show format, allowing Parton to display her powerful vocals and magnetic personality alongside a pantheon of guest stars, including country legends Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers, as well as pop culture icons Burt Reynolds, Pee-wee Herman, and Oprah Winfrey.
Despite Parton's charisma and singing abilities, the show received mixed reviews, with critics finding its comedic elements didn't align with her down-home style. However, the show's initial success proved to be its downfall, as ratings dipped throughout the 1987-88 season, leading to its abrupt cancellation after 22 episodes. In a 2020 interview, Parton admitted the show's hype was out of proportion, stating she wasn't the type to conform to Hollywood's expectations.
Interestingly, she found a silver lining, expressing relief that the show ended, as she always hoped for the wrong elements in her life to disappear. Parton also playfully teased Oprah Winfrey about the show's cancellation, jokingly suggesting she should have received a share of the profits.
Written by urgent.news from TVLine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
