Dolly Parton and Stallone’s Rhinestone is underrated
In the realm of pop culture, some pairings seem impossible, yet they manage to carve out an undeniable legacy. The combination of country music icon Dolly Parton and action legend Sylvester Stallone, for instance, might seem like a strange collision of worlds—peanut butter and chicken wings, if you will. But when you look at the cinematic landscape of the 1980s, these two stars defined an era, setting the stage for one of the most delightfully chaotic and unforgettable film collaborations: Rhinestone” >Rhinestone.
The mid-eighties were a time when pop culture thrived on the delightfully gonzo and the unexpected. While Dolly Parton was busy churning out toe-tapping country hits and achieving massive crossover success with songs like 9 to 5″ >9 to 5 and “Islands in the Stream,” Stallone was delivering blockbuster action with films like Rocky III” >Rocky III and First Blood” >First Blood. They were two of the biggest names, popular with vastly different audiences, making them a perfect, if improbable, pairing for a truly unique venture.
So, how did a film about a country singer in a New York bar come to be? The genesis of Rhinestone” >Rhinestone was rooted in Dolly’s own story. Phil Alden Robinson wrote the screenplay as a vehicle for Parton, envisioning her as a sexy country singer performing at a bar called The Rhinestone. While the premise sounds utterly outlandish today, the 1980s were a time when the urban cowboy scene was gaining traction, and New York did, indeed, have a country music presence.
The plot itself was pure, high-stakes absurdity. Dolly sought freedom from her contract, leading to a rather sleazy deal where she had to bet a fast-talking New York cab driver—the least likely man to be a country star—to turn someone into a singer in two weeks. And in a truly cinematic twist, sparks fly between the unlikely pair.
To secure the studio’s interest, 20th Century Fox needed a male star who wouldn’t overshadow Dolly. Mike Ovitz and CAA managed to maneuver Sylvester Stallone into the deal. Stallone was reportedly supposed to star in Beverly Hills Cop>Beverly Hills Cop, but he bailed to make Rhinestone” >Rhinestone. He even took the directorial reins, attempting to infuse the script with a more gritty, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom>, Ghostbusters>, and The Karate Kid>. While Rhinestone>Rhinestone itself didn’t top the charts, it still grossed about $21 million, and the soundtrack proved to be a legitimate hit. Songs like “Tennessee Homesick Blues” topped the country charts, and Parton herself praised the album for containing some of her best work.
Despite some minor recognition from the Razzie awards for specific songs, the film’s true legacy lies in the relationship it showcased. It highlighted a dynamic where Stallone, despite his star power, allowed Dolly to shine, offering an equal footing that was rare. It was a testament to the enduring, fun-loving relationship between the two stars, even if the cinematic outcome was a bit of a laugh.
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