‘DWTS’ Cast Recalls Working With The “Inspiring” Dolly Parton On Set
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Do you remember when Dolly Parton appeared on Dancing with the Stars?
The hit reality show, Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), is gearing up for its 35th season. Premiering on September 15th, the show pairs celebrities with professional dancers to compete in weekly challenges in hopes of taking home the coveted mirror ball trophy.
The full cast for the season was announced on September 2nd. Hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro will return, as well as judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli.
During a visit to Good Morning America to celebrate the upcoming season, the DWTS hosts and judges recalled Dolly Parton‘s special visit to the set during season 20 in 2007. The musical icon performed her timeless hit, “9 to 5,” while Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, and Cheryl Burke danced along.
Relive the performance below!
How Dolly Parton Will Inspire The Upcoming Season Of DWTS
Julianne Hough described the experience of welcoming Dolly Parton on DTWS nearly twenty years ago as “incredible.” The professional dancer reflected on how the late country star’s legacy parallels the show, and shared:
“Authenticity is a word that gets thrown around so often. But with Dolly, specifically, she never censored herself; she was always true to who she was. That is what is so important about this show, too, is connecting and being real and honest and vulnerable.”
When news of Dolly’s death broke, Julianne admired the balance that Dolly found between working hard and maintaining a lighthearted nature. She said:
“She never took herself too seriously, but took what she did very seriously.”
Hear Julianne Hough and the DWTS cast reflect on working with Dolly Parton in the video below!
Fans Demand A Dolly Parton Night
As the clip of Dolly’s visit to the beloved dance show recirculates online following her death, the comments section has been flooded with fans urging the show to host a Dolly Parton-themed night this season. They wrote:
“There better be a Dolly Parton night this season!”
“I hope DWTS has a Dolly night to honor her…”
“Praying they have a Dolly night this season 🙏🏼🦋”
Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars.
