Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Did You Know Jane Fonda Once Sang Backing Vocals For Dolly Parton At The Opry?

Jane Fonda Once Sang Backup for Dolly Parton at the Grand Ole Opry
Riley Johnson
by
  • Riley Johnson covers country music’s legends, tributes, and the stories behind the songs for Country Thang Daily.
  • Her beat includes the Grand Ole Opry, Hall of Fame moments, gospel and faith in country music, and the artists who built the genre.
  • When a legend is honored, remembered, or back in the spotlight, Riley is usually the one writing it.
Get Country Thang Daily first on GoogleGet CTD first on GoogleAdd us as a preferred source in Top StoriesAdd us as a preferred sourceAdd

It’s been forty years since the 1980 American comedy film 9 to 5 made its theatrical debut – bringing together actresses Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton, along with Lily Tomlin. Still, their strong friendship never ceases to amaze everyone.

Recent news confirmed that the country music living legend would be making a cameo in the season finale of Grace and Frankie – a Netflix comedy series which stars no other than Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. This is, without a doubt, the biggest reunion we’ve all been waiting for!

When Tomlin and Fonda once dropped by The Late Late Show with James Corden, the two revealed their experience working with the country queen. Fonda, for instance, recalled her fondest memory with Parton. And it was actually going on a Nashville tour with the country superstar – starting the trip off by singing at the most prestigious stage, the Grand Ole Opry, no less.

Fonda sang backup for Parton, and the audience did not have the slightest idea that she was a Hollywood royalty. But the most bizarre thing happened next.

After struggling to recollect her thoughts, Fonda went on narrating her Music City getaway. Apparently, when they went on to Parton’s tour bus, the singer brought Fonda “at her cousin’s still in the Ozarks because she wanted me to know what really good white lightning was.”

Much to Tomlin and Corden’s confusion, Fonda explained that it was a moonshine – homemade, unaged whiskey – filtered one time for more goodness. It was so good that Fonda plugged her thumb in the jug and chugged it down without noticing that she’s already drunk.

The funny thing was that she got drunk for ten days without knowing until they got home. Parton’s husband – Carl Thomas Dean – edited a short clip for their trip, and when Fonda looked at it, it was only then she realized she had no idea how drunk she was.

Indeed, their bond is one of the tightest in the entertainment industry. The 9 to 5’s release marked its 40th anniversary last December 2020. The film sparked a massive level of pop-cultural recognition for the actresses and, of course, a sincere friendship and professional partnership, especially to Fonda and Parton.

Did You Know Jane Fonda Once Sang Backing Vocals For Dolly Parton At The Opry?

Know someone who loves Dolly Parton?

Pass this story along to your friends and family on Facebook.

Share on Facebook

Latest Stories

Roseanne Barr Made Her New Show Meemaw Without Hollywood, and Randy Quaid Plays Her Husband

When ABC brought her sitcom back without her in 2018, the network killed off her character with an opioid overdose and kept the rest of the family on the air ...

Kane Brown’s Nashville Bar Faces a $2.4 Million Lawsuit Months After Opening on Broadway

Long before his name went up over the door at 312 Broadway, Kane Brown was just a regular at The Valentine, spending his Saturdays there cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs. ...

Kid Rock Felt Called to Record His First Christian Album and He Went All In on Jesus

The song came to him in the middle of the night. Everything else followed from there. Kid Rock announced Halfway 2 Jesus, the first Christian album of his career, arriving ...

Kid Rock and Eminem Chose Friendship Over Politics and Reunited on His Christian Album

Kid Rock dropped the tracklist for his first Christian album on Thursday, October 1, and one name on it stopped people cold. Track three is called “7 Sins,” and it ...

Dolly Parton Day Is Here With Book Drives, Sparkle, and a Lot of Giving Across the Country

Somewhere in Ohio, a small charity asked people for 925 donations of $9.25 each. They blew past it and funded free books for 1,110 kids. That is what September 25 ...

Dolly Parton’s Nephew Who Announced Her Death Was Reportedly Fired From Guarding Her Properties

Three weeks after Bryan Seaver stood in front of a camera to tell the world his aunt had died, he was reportedly told to hand over the keys. Seaver, the ...

The CMA Will Honor Dolly Parton With a Two-Hour Live Special on October 21

Dolly Parton wrote the most famous goodbye song in American music. Now, country music is using it to say goodbye to her. The Country Music Association announced it will honor ...

Reba Wore Dolly Parton’s Rhinestone Earrings and Butterfly Ring During Her Emmys Tribute

The first time Reba McEntire ever saw Dolly Parton in person, Dolly was covered in rhinestone butterflies. McEntire has told the story more than once. She was backing up against ...

Sally Field Called Dolly Parton an Angel on Earth in Her Emmys Tribute Speech

Sally Field worked with Dolly Parton on one movie in 1989. She spent the next thirty-seven years loving her anyway. Field introduced the Dolly Parton tribute at the 78th Primetime ...

Reba McEntire Sang “Appalachian Memories” for Dolly at the Emmys and Got Emotional at the End

Forty-three years ago, Dolly Parton stood on the Emmy stage and sang a song she wrote about her daddy and the mountains that raised her. On Monday night, her friend ...