Dolly Parton

The country music icon, 72, has written six new songs for the soundtrack of the Netflix movie Dumplin’ (streaming Dec. 7). It’s about the plus-size Willowdean (Danielle Macdonald), who finds inspiring messages in the music and sayings of her idol, Dolly Parton. Willowdean’s mother, a former beauty queen, is played by Jennifer Aniston. In Dumplin’, you are held up as an icon—which you certainly are to your fans. Do you feel a responsibility as a result? I do. I try to be an example. It’s a big responsibility because I’m just a person too. Like Willowdean, you once had weight issues. Did that help you relate to her story? Absolutely. Back in the day, yes, I got really fat. When I was doing Best Little Whorehouse in

Texas, I was way up there. I could still be that big if I didn’t watch it. I love to eat, cook and go to restaurants. There’s a Dumplin’ inside of me trying to get out. The Netflix series Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, coming next year, will feature stories based on your songs. I’ve always wanted my songs to be stories, so I asked, “What do you think about doing something called Dolly Parton Theatre, where they do a movie each week from stories based on my songs?” Netflix loved it. The sequel to 9to5 is being written for you, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The idea, I think, is new girls who are still having the same problems that we had in the original say, “Who were these women that made so many changes back so many years ago?” And they look us up.