How Dolly Parton used her authentic country wit to beat Hollywood critics to the punchline

Long before Dolly Parton became a global superstar, she mastered the art of beating others to the punch line, making her humor nearly as recognizable as her country music. Following the country icon’s death at age 80, directors, country legends and media experts recalled how Parton built a down-home comedic persona that helped her break stereotypes and find success in Hollywood without abandoning her roots. As fans mourn the loss of a cultural icon, those who worked with Parton remember a profes