Dolly Parton: In her own words

At Outlook we've spoken to Dolly a couple of times over the years, and following news of her death, we're revisiting the songs and stories that made up her remarkable life. Our first interview took place in Nashville in 2003, with Outlook's Frederick Dove. Later, in 2014, Outlook's Damian Barr met Dolly to talk about her love of books, and her literacy campaign 'Dolly Parton's Imagination Library'.

Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 has long been an anthem for working women around the world. She wrote it on the set of a movie – the hit 1980s comedy 9 to 5 starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and of course Dolly Parton. It is a film about three secretaries who decide to take revenge on their misogynist boss. The film was inspired by the stories of real secretaries who became so exasperated by how they were being treated by their managers they decided to fight back. They formed an organisation called 9to5 and Karen Nussbaum was one of its founders. She spoke to Outlook's Saskia Collette in 2020. 

This edition replaces Outlook Mixtape: Strangers on a Train - part 2, which will be broadcast on 4 September, 2026.

(Photo: A black and white photo of Dolly Parton smiling broadly at the camera with a sequinned dress and her signature blonde hair in curls. Credit: George Rose/Getty Images)

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Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Harry Graham