‘Dancing With the Stars’ Remembers Dolly Parton as Fans Call for a Tribute Night

Dolly Parton left a lasting impression on the Dancing With the Stars family, and as the show prepares to return for its 35th season, members of the cast are looking back on the country music icon’s memorable time in the ballroom.

Parton died on August 25, 2026, at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. In the days since her death, tributes have poured in from across the entertainment world, with fans also revisiting some of her most memorable television appearances.

One performance in particular has resurfaced: Parton’s appearance on Dancing With the Stars, where she performed her signature hit “9 to 5” as Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, Mark Ballas and Cheryl Burke danced alongside her.

Dolly Parton’s memorable DWTS performance

Dancing With the Stars is set to begin its 35th season on September 15. The new season brings back hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro, along with judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. The full cast was announced on September 2.

Ahead of the new season, the hosts and judges appeared on Good Morning America and reflected on some of the show’s most memorable moments. Parton’s appearance quickly became one of the highlights of the conversation.

Parton performed “9 to 5” on Dancing With the Stars on September 26, 2007, during the show’s fifth season. Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, Mark Ballas and Cheryl Burke joined her for the performance.

She also performed “Better Get to Livin’” that night. Contemporary accounts noted the enormous enthusiasm surrounding her appearance, with the studio audience giving Parton an especially warm reception.

Julianne Hough remembers Dolly’s authenticity

For Julianne Hough, the opportunity to share the DWTS stage with Parton remains an especially meaningful memory.

Hough described welcoming the country legend to the show as an incredible experience. Looking back after Parton’s death, she connected the singer’s personality and career to one of the qualities she believes is central to Dancing With the Stars: authenticity.

“Authenticity is a word that gets thrown around so often. But with Dolly, specifically, she never censored herself; she was always true to who she was.”

Hough said that same openness is important to the dance competition, where celebrities and professionals are encouraged to connect with one another and with viewers in a genuine way.

She also admired the way Parton balanced a serious commitment to her work with an unmistakable sense of humor and lightness.

As Hough put it, Parton “never took herself too seriously, but took what she did very seriously.”

That combination of discipline, warmth and authenticity is part of what made Parton such a memorable presence, even during a single appearance on the show.

Fans want a Dolly Parton tribute

Parton’s old Dancing With the Stars performance has taken on new significance following her death. As clips from her appearance circulate again online, fans have begun calling on the show to dedicate an episode or theme night to her music during Season 35.

The idea has gained attention in fan comments, although a Dolly Parton-themed night has not been officially confirmed. Recent coverage notes that fans are advocating for a tribute while the show’s producers have yet to announce the complete list of Season 35 theme nights.

Among the comments appearing online were:

“There better be a Dolly Parton night this season!”

“I hope DWTS has a Dolly night to honor her…”

“Praying they have a Dolly night this season 🙏🏼🦋”

For a show built around music, performance and personal stories, Parton’s legacy gives Dancing With the Stars plenty of material to draw from. Her 2007 appearance remains one of the show’s memorable musical performances, and nearly two decades later, it has given fans another reason to celebrate the woman behind the music.