Only Dolly Parton Can Get an Oscar Winner to Help Her Make Her Super Bowl Debut
The legendary Dolly Parton has performed in different venues all over the world during her 50+ year career. But, she’s never been part of a Super Bowl – until now.
During Super Bowl LV, fans will see Parton star in a new commercial for Squarespace. And, she had an Oscar winner direct the special spot.
Dolly Parton turned down a Super Bowl halftime appearance in 2015
With an iconic career that’s spanned decades — and hundreds of hits to her credit — it would have made sense for Parton to be the headliner of a Super Bowl halftime show at some point over the years. Or, at least make an appearance. But, Parton has never been part of sport’s biggest spectacle.
While playing a game of “Actually Me” with GQ Magazine, Parton revealed that she received an invitation to perform at Super Bowl XLIX back in 2015. The “9 to 5” singer explained that Katy Perry asked her to join her on stage for a performance. But, Parton had to turn her down.
“This one asks if it’s true that Katy Perry asked me to be on the stage with her at the Superbowl. And that is true, and I would have done it, ’cause I love Katy Perry,” Parton said. “But at the time, my husband (Carl Dean) was not doing good. He was kinda puny and I couldn’t leave him, so I couldn’t do it. But one of these days, maybe we’ll do it again. I love her.”
The Squarespace Super Bowl ad will flip the iconic hit ‘9 to 5’
Forty years ago, Parton had both a hit song and a hit movie with 9 to 5. Parton wrote the movie’s theme song. And, she also starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dabney Coleman in a story about everyday office workers and their horrible boss.
Over the years, Parton says that a lot of people have wanted her to change the lyrics of “9 to 5” to fit their lives. The Grammy winner thought that was “a wonderful thing,” and she decided to use that idea for her commercial with Squarespace – a company that helps people build and host their own website.
According to US News and World Report, Parton is turning 9 to 5 into 5 to 9 for her Super Bowl commercial. The idea is to give a shout out to entrepreneurs who are pursuing their dreams after hours.
“A lot of people through the years have wanted to change the lyrics to fit certain things they’re doing. I really thought that was a wonderful thing, especially for Squarespace. They’re so into people, new entrepreneurs working after hours to start their own businesses,” Parton said. “‘5 to 9’ seemed to be a perfect thing when they pitched it.”
Dolly Parton’s new commercial was directed by an Oscar winner
The 75-year-old Parton is more than a singer. She’s also an actor, producer, humanitarian, and businesswoman who can relate to entrepreneurs who work around the clock. Parton says that she works 365 days a year, at all hours of the day and night. She says she’s “always working 5 to 9, 9 to 5.”
“Whatever you need to do, you gotta get it done, however many hours it takes,” Parton said.
In addition to promoting Squarespace, Parton is also using the platform to create the website DolllyFragrance.com for her new perfume. On top of that, the country icon kicked things up a notch by working with Oscar winning director Damien Chazelle, of La La Land fame.
Parton says she is excited to be part of this year’s Super Bowl after being asked so many times. She says that she’s always “kind of chickened out” because it’s a big commitment. However, she felt like starring in a Super Bowl commercial this year “seemed like the perfect kind of way to do it.”
Super Bowl LV airs Sunday, February 7 on CBS.
