Globally beloved American country singer Dolly Parton has recently announced she’s hitting the big screen with her first-ever major movie role- and with the support of her good friend Reese Witherspoon no less.
Parton has teamed up with Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine media company to turn her best-selling novel Run, Rose, Run into a movie adaptation.
“I haven’t been in a movie in a long time, so it’s about time,” Parton told Entertainment Weekly.“This will be very special.”
In her interview with the Country Heat Weekly podcast, the 11 time Grammy winner revealed the movie’s script is already in the works and she would be playing the lead role.
“I’m going to be playing the part of Ruthanna who is the older character. She was once a star and now she’s retired. Pretty much like me with the exception that I’m not retired and never intend to be” she said.
While Parton is yet to announce more casting details, she says the movie is set to be released in about a year and a half.
News of Parton’s debut to the silver screen comes just two weeks after her novel-which she had co-written with thriller king James Patterson- hit bookshelves and made the New York Times’s bestseller list.
Parton has also released an accompanying album for her novel filled with original songs that relate to the book for those looking for a teaser before the movie shows on the big screen.
However, Parton’s inauguration to the big screen and venture into literature isn’t the only reason why the country legend has been making headlines. Parton had recently caught media attention for declining an invitation to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right,” Parton shared on Instagram. “I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out.”