Dolly contributed her voice in two cameo roles in the Canadian coming-of-age film "The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom," released in 2011. The main character, Elizabeth, played by Julia Stone, grows up in the 1970s idolizing Dolly and her individualism. The film includes several of Dolly’s songs, including versions sung by Canadian artists Martha Wainwright, Coral Egan, Nelly Furtado, Genevieve Toupin, and Wailin’ Jennies.
The film was directed by Calgary Alberta’s Tara Johns who explained her inclusion of Dolly,
“...I heard a radio interview that Dolly Parton gave. I was blown away by what a strong, independent, forthright woman she really was, and she always has been. And I just thought she’d be such a cool role model for so many girls, especially in the ‘70s. She’s like Madonna for the ‘70s.”
Dolly said after seeing the movie,
“I thought it was really, really great and was very, very proud of it... I thought everyone was great. But, I especially loved my little daughter. (Ha!)”
The original song, "Travelin' Thru" received a host of awards and nominations. In 2006, it earned a GRAMMY nomination for Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.
Dolly performed the song on the soundtrack of, "Transamerica." The director/producer, Duncan Tucker, gave Dolly some direction when he made his request.
"He wanted the song to be about redemption and about people's feelings."
After giving the song and the film some thought, Dolly decided on a spiritual direction with a gospel feel.
"Travelin' Thru" is an original song written and performed by Dolly for the movie "Transamerica." The song went on to receive nominations for an Academy Award for Best Song and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. It was also nominated by the Broadcast Film Critics Association for Best Song and won for Best Original Song at the Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards on 2005.
When Duncan Tucker, the director of the movie "Transamerica," was looking for a song for the end credits of his movie, he had only one thought, Dolly Parton.
Dolly said about her motivation for writing the movie’s song,
"Some people are blind or ignorant, and you can't be that prejudiced and hateful and go through this world and still be happy. One thing about this movie is that I think art can change minds. It's alright to be who you are."
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.
