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Dolly Parton's variety show Dolly, which ran from 1987 to 1988, is a treasure trove of comedy, music and guest stars, from Tom Selleck to Oprah Winfrey. But one of the sweetest appearances -- and one that I did not expect to make me tear up mid-afternoon on a weekday -- is that of Cagney & Lacey star Tyne Daly.
In the clip, Tyne Daly, who was already a television favorite for her Emmy-winning role as detective Mary Beth Lacey, plays Rube, a trucker who wants to be respected in her field but is tired of being treated like "one of the guys."
Parton is Dixie, the proprietor of the roadside diner Dixie's Place, who seeks to comfort Rube despite being rebuffed by her upon their first meeting. After dueting the folk song "When Cockleshells Turn Silver Bells (Waly, Waly)," the two seemingly different women bond over the trials of sexism, heartache and societal expectations. All that and a performance of a Dolly deep-cut "Hard to Be Soft"? Further proof that this show was perfect and HBO Max needs to buy the rights immediately.
Read More: Flashback: Country Radio Stations Boycotted Dolly Parton's 1975 Hit 'The Bargain Store'
Daly's performance on the Dolly show was so impressive that she earned the role of Mama Rose in the Broadway production of Gypsy after co-producer Barry Brown saw her performance on the variety show. In 1990, Tyne won a Tony for her performance in Gypsy.
In 1987, both Parton and Daly were named Ms. Magazine Women of the Year, along with actor Sharon Gless and Sen. Barbara Mikulski.
Four of the women chosen by Ms. Magazine as Women of the Year for 1986 pose with their medals during an award ceremony at the Roseland Ballroom in New York, Monday, Jan. 12, 1987. From left; entertainer Dolly Parton, actresses Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly, and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett)
The 1987 series Dolly was Parton's second variety show. In 1976, her first television series (also called Dolly) premiered and would feature Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and more during its one season run.
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