A Dolly Parton Netflix Series Is On The Way

Netflix is trying something new with their latest original series. The streaming service just ordered an anthology series where each episode is based on a song by Dolly Parton. Parton will serve as singer/songwriter, executive producer, and will also appear in the series.

"As a songwriter, I have always enjoyed telling stories through my music," Parton said. "I am thrilled to be bringing some of my favorite songs to life with Netflix. We hope our show will inspire and entertain families and folks of all generations, and I want to thank the good folks at Netflix and Warner Bros. TV for their incredible support."

It's not every day that you hear a song is being adapted into a film or a TV show, so this is kind of neat. The statement from Parton makes it sound like the Netflix series will be pulling from her catalogue of songs, and one Netflix announcement mentions the episodes will be based on "iconic" Parton songs. But the Parton is also being credited as "singer/songwriter" of the series, which indicates she might be crafting new music as well. Or maybe I'm reading too much into that.

Netflix announced the show via one of their many twitter accounts, writing:

@DollyParton and her music are headed to Netflix! The living legend will serve as singer/songwriter, co-star, and executive producer on a new anthology series where every episode is based on an iconic Dolly Parton song.

This isn't the first time Parton's songs were optioned to be turned into filmed entertainment. In 2015, Parton signed a deal with NBC to turn several of her songs into a series of TV movies. The results were Coat Of Many Colors and Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. I've never seen or even heard of those films, but I'm sure someone, somewhere, loves 'em.

I can't tell if the Netflix series is going to find inspiration in Parton's real-life, or just her songs. Maybe it'll be like Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan "biopic" I'm Not There, which drew inspiration from Dylan's life to craft a fictionalized, stylized portrait. Or maybe it won't be that ambitious.

No premiere date for the series has been announced yet.