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Jane Fonda Recalls Dolly Parton Getting ‘Upset’ During Photoshoot: ‘We Never Can Show This to Anybody’
Jane Fonda is looking back on a moment when her late friend Dolly Parton became upset over a seemingly innocent photo, a memory she says perfectly captures the country icon’s character.
During an emotional interview with Democracy Now! on Monday, August 31, Fonda, 88, reflected on Parton’s reaction after she and her 9 to 5 costars, including Lily Tomlin, crossed their eyes for a photo as a joke.
“On a photo session, me, Dolly, and Lily, for fun, we crossed our eyes,” Fonda recalled. “They took a picture of us with our eyes crossed.”
Parton immediately objected to the photo because she feared it could be hurtful to others.
“[Dolly] got very upset. She said, ‘We never can show this to anybody. It looks like we’re making fun [of people],'” Fonda continued. “I have a relative who’s cross-eyed, I don’t ever want to see this picture.”
For Fonda, the exchange was an example of the compassion that defined Parton, who died on August 25 at age 80.
“She meant love. She really did. She loved everyone,” Fonda said of her longtime friend.
The actress also praised Parton for never forgetting her roots after growing up with little money in rural Tennessee. Fonda said the “Jolene” singer taught her the importance of “acknowledging and respecting fans” and giving back to the people who supported her.
Fonda had plenty of personal Parton stories to share, including how the late country music icon helped her prepare to play an Appalachian woman who moves to Detroit in the 1984 TV movie The Dollmaker.
“She invited me to Nashville, and we spent 10 days driving through Appalachia and meeting people,” Fonda recalled.
The Oscar winner previously paid tribute to Parton on Instagram shortly after news of her death broke, saying she was “devastated” by the loss of her friend and former costar.
“Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful that she is woven into all our lives and hearts forever,” Fonda wrote.
