The Truth About Dolly Parton’s Surprise Cameo On ‘Grace And Frankie’ Finale

Behind the scenes, Dolly Parton has quite the relationship with Grace and Frankie stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

Netflix‘s feel-good “groundbreaking” series, Grace and Frankie just released its final season, and fans are still talking about Dolly Parton’s cameo in a hilarious scene with her besties, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Many thought it was a great reunion for the iconic trio who previously starred in the 1980 film 9 to 5. Here’s the truth about that cameo and the actors’ decades-long friendship.

Inside Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, & Lily Tomlin’s Time In ‘9 To 5’

9 to 5 was actually Dolly Parton’s film debut. She played Miss Doralee Rhodes who “fantasizes about lassoing her sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot boss.” Tomlin played Violet Newstead who’s a widow and mother of four, struggling to get the promotion she clearly deserves. Fonda played the uncharacteristic Judy Bernly, a nervous divorcee who has no idea what she’s doing in her life. The Barbarella star was also the mastermind behind the comedy. She was inspired by her old friend, Karen Nussbaum’s organization for working women, 9to5

In a 1981 Playgirl interview with the Jolene hitmaker, she said that Fonda “was real helpful” throughout the film. She said the movie star gave her valuable acting tips such as, “Don’t talk on the same voice level. Don’t get too excited when you’ve got nowhere to go. Don’t start out high. Make a definite look, don’t move your eyes around.” Fonda even gave her advice for her future movie projects. Parton was given “names of directors to think about.” The actress told her: “I’d like to see you someday do something really serious and dramatic. Not comedy, not funny.

When asked who she was closer to, Parton said that she had the chance to get to know Tomlin more than Fonda. “Actually, I felt a bit closer to Lily during the film because I had a chance to get to know her, and Jane had so much business stuff to do,” she explained. “And Lily and I are both with the same agency now. I spent more time talking to Lily. With Jane, we got to be close, but we really hadn’t gotten together enough to totally relax and just be pals. I have such respect and admiration for Jane. I’m not star-struck, but I know when a person’s great.”

The Truth About Dolly Parton’s ‘Grace And Frankie’ Cameo

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Fonda described Parton’s cameo on Grace and Frankie as “beyond perfect.” She added that the singer stole that scene with her personality. “It’s not just the fact that Dolly shows up. It’s how she shows up. What the story is that brings her on. It’s just beyond perfect,” said the 84-year-old actress. “We were both just so moved when she turned that chair around and there she was.” She and Tomlin previously talked about Parton’s role in the series finale, saying that “it seemed right” to have her there.

“She’s on the last episode. And that was one of our favorite episodes,” Tomlin told People. “We really loved doing that and having Dolly there. We’d done things together in the recent past, like presented on award shows and stuff like that. It seemed right.” Then she told Parton: “Thank God you showed up. It was almost too late!” Tomlin also admitted to being “emotional” about the show’s end. “We are sorry to finish it… So, it will be very tough watching this last season,” she said.

Inside Dolly Parton’s Friendship With Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin

The three have been friends for over 40 years now. In Parton’s A&E documentary, Biography: Dolly, Fonda teared up just talking about the musician’s impact. “It’s like through her songs she opens her arms wide and embraces such a broad swath of people that don’t always feel seen, and it’s why people love her,” the actress said while wiping her tears. “And it’s why when we’ve been in public with her, her fans will drive for hours to be where she is. I’ve been with a lot of big movie stars. I’ve never seen the devotion that her fans have for her in anyone else. It’s quite extraordinary.

Parton also expressed her admiration for Fonda’s work as an activist on The View. “She’s always been out protesting something all of her life,” she said of her friend. “I wouldn’t get out in the streets but I kinda contribute in my own way. I’m an entertainer and I do it a little different. Everyone’s got their own way of making their points. I try to do it my own and they do it theirs.” In 2017, the 9 to 5 trio had a mini-reunion when they presented the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. “We still refuse to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying hypocritical bigot!” Tomlin joked onstage.