Dolly Parton once hoped she could find a way to return to the world of 9 to 5. But when Jennifer Aniston began developing a new take on the beloved workplace comedy, Parton ultimately decided she would rather support the project from the sidelines.
Parton passed away Tuesday, Aug. 25, at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, according to her representatives. Her death brought renewed attention to her decades-long career in music, philanthropy, and film, including the 1980 comedy that helped make her a Hollywood star and inspiration to many.
Aniston has been developing a reimagining of “9 to 5” through her production company, Echo Films, with Oscar-winning writer Diablo Cody attached to write the script. The new film aims to give the classic story a modern perspective while updating its workplace dynamics for a new generation.
Although Aniston wanted Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin to be somehow involved, Parton eventually made it clear that the original trio had no plans to appear on screen.
GettyDolly Parton Had Once Hoped to Return
Parton initially sounded enthusiastic about the possibility of appearing in Aniston’s version.
In 2024, she expressed excitement about the remake and said she hoped the new film could find a way to bring the three original stars back together.
That enthusiasm did not completely disappear. Parton continued to praise Aniston and Cody’s vision even after deciding she would not act in the film.
In a 2025 interview, Parton explained that she, Fonda and Tomlin had spent years trying to develop a “9 to 5” sequel of their own. “Jane, Lily and I have been trying for years to try to come up with a 9 to 5: Two through the years,” Parton said, acknowledging that the sequel “never happened.”
When asked about Aniston’s remake, Parton said the actress wanted the original stars “to be involved in it somehow.” However, she added that she, Fonda and Tomlin had “no plans to be in that.” Parton also made it clear that there were no hard feelings.
“But I love Jennifer. I think it’ll be a wonderful thing,” she said, praising the script as “a new and different take” that brings the office up to date with how people work today.
GettyHer decision came down, at least in part, to something much more personal. “I think a lot of it is that, you know, we’re all older now,” Parton said. She joked that she and her longtime co-stars might not look as good on the big screen alongside “beautiful, young, fresh people.”
The comment reflected Parton’s trademark humor, but it also showed why she did not feel the need to return simply for the sake of nostalgia.
Why the Original Trio Passed on a Sequel
Parton, Fonda and Tomlin had more than one reason for stepping away from a potential sequel.
Tomlin previously explained that the trio had made a serious attempt to develop a follow-up, but the script did not work. The problem came down to how much the workplace had changed since the original movie premiered in 1980. “We couldn’t really see the work world today,” Tomlin said, pointing to remote work and the rise of gig jobs as major differences from the office culture depicted in the original.
That same challenge helped shape the new version Aniston and Cody began developing. Cody has said her take would focus more on generational conflict in the workplace rather than simply recreating the original film’s battle-of-the-sexes storyline.
Fonda also previously wished the team behind the remake well, while Tomlin expressed sympathy for Aniston and Cody as they attempted to modernize such an iconic story. Parton, meanwhile, offered to contribute in another way.
Rather than reprise Doralee Rhodes, she remained open to allowing Aniston to use her iconic song “9 to 5” and even discussed the possibility of rewriting or reworking the song for the new film.
That offer feels especially fitting given how closely the song remains tied to Parton’s legacy.
The original “9 to 5” followed three office workers, Doralee, Violet and Judy, as they dealt with their sexist boss, Franklin Hart, played by the late Dabney Coleman. The film became a cultural phenomenon, while Parton’s title track earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song in 1981.
GettyMore than four decades later, Parton still understood what made the movie so meaningful.
“It’s really amazing to be part of something that really can change the course of life for anybody,” she once said, reflecting on the film’s impact on conversations surrounding equality in the workplace.
Parton may not have returned to the big screen for Aniston’s “9 to 5,” but her influence will remain impossible to separate from the story. From Doralee Rhodes to one of the most recognizable movie songs of all time, she left an imprint on the franchise that no remake could replace.
And in the end, Parton seemed comfortable letting a new generation take over the office while she continued to stand behind the legacy she helped create.
