The great Dolly Parton passed away today at the age of 80 in her native Tennessee. The singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman was more than a global icon; she was a singular artist and force for good in this world. Her music became the soundtrack of our lives, her films rallying cries for equality, and her charity work helped educate and inspire untold numbers of people.
Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of both artistry and kindness. Her gentle heart welcomed fans as they were, from all across the globe, and her unique perspective on life brought sunshine where otherwise there was darkness.
If you’re feeling heartsick over the loss of this titanic talent, the good news is that her work endures. Her songs live in our hearts, her humor in our souls, and her television and film work is all over streaming to enjoy. You can watch a concert staged in her honor, featuring performances by real life goddaughter Miley Cyrus, country stars Kacey Musgraves and Willie Nelson, and pop idols Shawn Mendes and Katy Perry. You can also check out an anthology series bringing all of Dolly’s best-loved songs to dramatic life. Finally, you can see Dolly play an angel — not once, but twice — in Netflix originals.
In honor of the late legend, here are the five best Dolly Parton shows and movies now streaming on Netflix…
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Photo: Tina Rowden/Netflix Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings is a sweet anthology series inspired by some of Parton’s most beloved songs. Stars like Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Julianne Hough, Gerald McRaney, Colin O’Donoghue, and Ginnifer Goodman starred as characters bringing the tales of Dolly’s classic tunes to life. There are eight episodes and all are now streaming on Netflix.
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Photo: Getty Images for NARAS In 2019, some of Dolly Parton’s closest friends and most devoted fans in the music industry gathered together for Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute. If you want to see the grand dame at the height of her powers — and a cast of celebrities honoring the icon’s musical legacy — you can’t go wrong with this concert special.
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Photo: Netflix Dolly Parton plays the role Dolly Parton was born to play — an angel — in 2020’s Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square. The holiday movie, which was directed and choreographed by the great Debbie Allen, follows Parton’s angel as she tries to convince the curmudgeon-y Regina Fuller (Christine Baranski) to save a small town from becoming a mega-mall. Jenifer Lewis, Treat Williams, Josh Segarra, and Jeanine Mason co-star.
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Grace & Frankie Series Finale “The Beginning”
Photo: Netflix It seems that Dolly Parton was such a pure soul that she was always getting cast as an angel. In 2022, Parton joined lifelong pals and 9 to 5 costars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda in the series finale of Netflix’s Grace and Frankie. Parton played Agnes the angel, a “working class angel” who has to deal with a mix up with the titular friends wind up in heaven at the same time.
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The PEOPLE Interview: “Dolly Parton on Her Husband’s Passing and Finding Joy at 79.”
Photo: PEOPLE Want to hear Dolly talk about her life and her loves in her own words? Parton recently sat down with PEOPLE magazine to open up about how she was doing after losing the love of her life, her long-time husband Carl, and how she was still being Dolly — the effervescent, joyous soul that she was — at 79.
Rest in peace, Dolly Parton.