The Oscar-winning actress recalled a powerful lesson from the late country legend on the set of “Steel Magnolias” — one that shaped her attitude for decades.
In the days following Dolly Parton’s death at age 80 on August 25, tributes have poured in from across the entertainment world. Among them, a resurfaced clip from The Oprah Winfrey Show features Julia Roberts sharing a piece of advice from Parton that she says she has “never forgotten” .
Roberts and Parton worked together on the 1989 drama Steel Magnolias, for which Roberts earned her first Oscar nomination . In the interview, Roberts recalled the intense heat during production in Louisiana, noting that Parton was the only cast member who wasn’t complaining.
“Everyone had ice on their wrist and was doing the whole thing, everyone was like, ‘It’s hot, can I get some water?'” Roberts remembered . “And I finally just had to say, ‘Dolly, I mean, you’ve got a wig and the wool. Come on, it’s hot, sweat a little, you know? Just say “I’m hot,” you know. “This is a drag!”
Parton’s response left a lasting impression. “When I was a little girl, I wanted to be famous and I wanted to be rich, and now I’m both those things. I’m not going to complain about it,” Parton said, according to Roberts .
“It was the way she said it, and I didn’t really do it her way, or else it’ll choke me up, but it was this thing and I’ve never forgotten it,” Roberts recalled . “And every time I go to complain or just kind of moan, I always hear Dolly sitting on the porch and saying that, and it kind of keeps you quiet.”
The country legend died following a “brief battle with cancer,” her family confirmed, adding that she was “surrounded by loved ones” when she passed away . Parton had recently updated fans on her health, sharing that she was dealing with issues she had neglected while caring for her husband of 58 years, Carl Dean, before his death last year . She had also canceled an upcoming Las Vegas residency in May due to health reasons .
Tributes have poured in from across the music world and beyond. Sir Elton John, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry, Eminem and Parton’s goddaughter Miley Cyrus are among the major artists to have shared messages . Streams of her hits have soared by more than 2,000 percent . In a tribute, Jack White performed a rousing rendition of “Jolene,” while Harry Styles kicked off his 30-night residency at Madison Square Garden by playing “I Will Always Love You” over the speakers before his show . “Everyone will always love Dolly,” NME concluded in its obituary .