Julia Stiles Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton With Emotional ‘9 to 5’ Performance on Dancing With the Stars

Julia Stiles made her highly anticipated debut on Dancing With the Stars Wednesday night with a heartfelt tribute to the late country music legend Dolly Parton.

The Save the Last Dance actress took the ballroom stage alongside professional dancer Ezra Sosa, performing a lively Quickstep to Parton’s iconic hit “9 to 5.” The performance was dedicated to the legendary singer, who died last month at the age of 80.

Before taking the stage, Stiles revealed that Parton had personally approved the song for her performance just weeks before her death.

“A couple weeks before Dolly passed, she approved this song, specifically for me,” Stiles said. “I’m so honored to be dancing to her music and honoring her legacy. I wanna make her proud.”

Stiles also praised Parton’s extraordinary talent and described “9 to 5” as an unforgettable anthem.

“She’s such a powerhouse and the song is so great. Like, it’s such an anthem. What a legend,” she said.

The performance earned enthusiastic praise from the show’s judges. Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli complimented Stiles on her graceful and radiant performance.

“You were in character, spot on, all the way through,” Tonioli told her. “You’re a great actor and a great dancer.”

Stiles and Sosa earned a total score of 18 out of 30, placing them among the higher-scoring couples on the leaderboard.

“9 to 5” holds a special place in Parton’s career. She wrote and recorded the song for the 1980 comedy film 9 to 5, in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The movie follows three female coworkers who join forces to take control of their workplace after enduring the behavior of their demanding boss.

Parton also appeared on Dancing With the Stars in 2007, performing “9 to 5” with professional dancers Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas.

Julianne Hough recently reflected on Parton’s connection to the show, describing it as an incredible moment in DWTS history.

“I think we are all so inspired by Dolly,” Hough said. “Authenticity is a word that gets thrown out so often, but with Dolly, specifically, she never censored herself. She was always true to who she was.”

Hough added that authenticity is also an important part of Dancing With the Stars, emphasizing the value of being genuine, vulnerable and honest.

Parton died in Nashville, Tennessee, on Aug. 25 following a brief battle with cancer. According to a statement from her representative, she died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.

Throughout her remarkable career, Parton was celebrated not only for her music but also for her philanthropy. Her Imagination Library distributed hundreds of millions of books to children, while her charitable contributions supported medical research and other causes.

Through her music, generosity and unmistakable personality, Parton left a lasting impact on millions of people. Stiles’ emotional performance on Dancing With the Stars offered another heartfelt tribute to a beloved cultural icon whose legacy continues to inspire audiences around the world.

W