She’s done it all: Cookbooks, theme parks, movies. She’s even authored children’s books and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But there was also a time when multi-Grammy-winning country music legend Dolly Parton set a major primetime TV record. Back in 1987, ABC gave the “Jolene” superstar her very own weekly variety series, simply titled “Dolly.” And when the show made its grand debut, legions of fans tuned in.
The series premiere pulled in a whopping 39.47 million viewers, making it — at the time — the most-watched new series premiere in television history. That historic record remained unrivaled for more than two decades, until CBS’ reality hit “Undercover Boss” finally caught up by scoring 38.6 million viewers in a coveted post-Super Bowl slot.
Conceived as a revival of the classic variety-show format, “Dolly” — not to be confused with her 1976 variety show, also called “Dolly” — offered Parton a platform to showcase her powerhouse vocals and signature charm, along with a star-studded roster of guest talent throughout the season. Everyone from country legends like Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt to pop-culture giants like the late Burt Reynolds, legendary Pee-wee Herman, and “Queen of All Media,” Oprah Winfrey, dropped in to perform alongside the host.