Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda will present the SAG Life Achievement Award to actor, comedian, writer, producer and all-round entertainment maverick Lily Tomlin during the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Executive Producer Kathy Connell announced today. Lily's accepting SAG-AFTRA’s highest accolade from her two long-time friends, a trio beloved as the co-conspirators in the 1980 feminist revenge comedy hit “9 to 5,” will be a highlight of the annual SAG Awards® ceremony, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017 at 8 p.m. (ET), 5 p.m. (PT).
"9 to 5" is now number 74 on American Film Institute's list of “100 Funniest American Movies of All Time." When the film was shot, Jane and Lily were friends who had already received numerous honors for their acting achievements. It was Dolly’s first feature film role, but she was a veteran of live and television performances as herself, an award-winning musician and writer. She also wrote, performed and received dozens of awards for the movie’s title song which she composed by creating a rhythm with her fingernails.
The three legendary artists, each of whom has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, have remained close friends since that catalyst film. Jane and Lily joined forces again as stars and executive producers of the current Netflix series “Grace and Frankie.” The success of the show led to both being honored this year with Actor® nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, along with Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominations for Tomlin. “Grace and Frankie” returns for its third season in May 2017.
When Dolly received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Annual CMA Awards, Lily was on hand to present the honor. All three ladies have received multiple honors throughout their phenomenal careers including Jane's 2014 AFI Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST.
Dolly appeared in a special holiday episode of "The Magic School Bus," the animated children’s television show based on a series of children’s books and adapted by Scholastic Entertainment. The show premiered on Sept. 10, 1994, on PBS and helped kids, especially girls and minorities, get more interested in science. The series finished its run in 1997 but aired again on Fox, TLC, Fox Kids, Discovery Kids, Qubo, and NBC as recently as 2010.
Dolly voiced the character Katrina Eloise "Murph" Murphy, operator of Murph’s recycling plant and the cousin of Ms. Frizzle, one of the main characters voiced by Lily Tomlin. On a holiday episode that originally aired on Dec. 25, 1996, Murph taught the class the importance of recycling.
[su_vimeo url="https://vimeo.com/120158482"]
The Magic School Bus from Dolly Parton on Vimeo.
Dolly appeared as herself in the big screen adaptation of the classic television series, 'The Beverly Hillbillies.' The movie starred Jim Varney as the family patriarch Jed Clampett who strikes oil and decides to move to Beverly Hills. Dolly appears in the film to sing Happy Birthday to the Jed Clampett character. The movie is also a reunion of sorts as it reunites Dolly, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman.
Dolly wrote and performed "If You Ain’t Got Love" for the film’s soundtrack.
The song appears on her album, "9 to 5 and Odd Jobs." It is based on the film of the same name in which Dolly starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Dolly explained in her Rolling Stone interview why she accepted the role that inspired the hit song,
"'Nine to Five' fascinated me, and I knew instantly that I should do it – I knew that it was a career move. And it fell together really well – just according to my lists."
Dolly was unable to attend the awards show. Her "9 to 5" co-star, Dabney Coleman, accepted the award on her behalf and Ann Jillian performed the song.
The 7th Annual People's Choice Awards were held at the Desilu TV studios in Los Angeles, California on, March 9, 1981. The show was broadcast on CBS.
The made-for-television movie, "Lily: Sold Out," tells the story of the real-life Lily Tomlin, played by Tomlin, taking her successful Broadway show to Vegas. In the film, Dolly played herself in a supporting role, along with guest stars Liberace, Joan Rivers, and Paul Anka.
