5 Best Dolly Parton TV Movies, Ranked
Dolly Parton was more than a country music legend. She captivated fans on both TV and films - sometimes both. These are the Queen of Country's best TV movies.
1. A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986): Dolly Parton stars as Lorna Davis, a country music singer who takes in a group of orphaned children in the Rocky Mountains. The movie features a distinctly 80s vibe and showcases Parton's natural acting talent, making it a tender and emotionally weighty holiday film.
2. Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square (Netflix, 2022): This film is a musical set in the town of Fullerville, where Regina (Dolly Parton) wants to sell her town to build a mall. The movie is primarily an angelic-themed story with Parton playing 14 original songs, directed by Debbie Allen. The film is cheesy but ultimately heartwarming, with Parton's emotional portrayal of Angel being a standout.
3. Unlikely Angel (CBS, 1996): In this holiday comedy, Dolly Parton plays Ruby Diamond, a country music star who dies in a car accident and becomes an angel. Parton's character helps a workaholic widower named Ben reconnect with his kids. The film is a fun and fresh take on the classic Christmas movie formula, with Parton's performance as the head angel and Jennifer Lewis's villainous Regina making it a standout choice.
4. A Country Christmas Story (Lifetime, 2013): Dolly Parton appears as herself in this Lifetime original Christmas movie, serving as the host of a songwriting contest. The story follows a biracial teenager, Grace, who wants to enter the contest and teach her family the value of healing old wounds and dreaming together. Parton's cameo roles are often underrated, and this film is a perfect example of her versatility and ability to bring warmth and love to any Christmas movie.
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