8-11-2026 4:19am

Dolly Premieres

Jeff Barto Editor

Join the living legend for a moving, musical journey through the people and places that shaped her iconic career. Featuring career-spanning archival footage of her music, the film reveals the spirit, soul and hard work of an artist who has inspired countless others. Interviews include Jane Fonda, Mac Davis and Lily Tomlin.

Dolly Parton, the undisputed queen of country music, has had one of the most stellar careers of any musician. In this film, Dolly herself lets us in on her fondest memories, her influences and her process. Dolly Parton: Here I Am premieres on PBS streaming or on MPT.

DOLLY PARTON: HERE I AM tells the story of Dolly Parton, beginning with her move to Nashville, Tennessee, where she quickly launched a country music career. Through interviews with Parton, her early bandmates, and archival footage, viewers learn how the singer got started in music.

As the documentary progresses, Parton details how she made a successful crossover from country to pop, scored a starring role in the hit movie 9 TO 5, started Dollywood and her Imagination Library program, and played shows as a bluegrass artist on the biggest tour of her career, decades after her debut.

DOLLY PARTON: HERE I AM gives viewers an informative overview of Parton’s career, diving into some of her biggest songs and featuring interviews with stars and friends like Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Kylie Minogue. Fans looking for a more in-depth, revealing look at Parton’s life might be disappointed, as the documentary is fairly surface level, but for those unfamiliar with Parton, DOLLY PARTON: HERE I AM is a great way to learn more about her.

Overall, DOLLY PARTON: HERE I AM has a moral worldview. People frequently comment on Parton’s kindness, pointing to the way she cares for her fans, as well as her Imagination Library reading program. There are some light Feminist elements, with people interviewed commenting on feminist themes in Parton’s work, as well as some brief discussion of premarital sex, two scenes featuring alcohol, and three instances of strong language.