In 1978, Dolly Parton appeared on the cover of Playboy in one of her most iconic looks. But she made sure the costume matched her values. Rather than wearing the standard bunny outfit, she requested changes to keep it modest for her religious fans.
Celebrity journalist Lawrence Grobel, who interviewed her for the magazine, revealed the story in diary entries recently shared with Vanity Fair. “She’ll pose for the cover if the bunny costume can be altered so the crotch can be lowered and she doesn’t reveal too much boob,” he wrote. Parton wanted to strike a balance between fun and respect.
A Playful Decision With Serious Consideration
According to Fox News, Parton admitted that she was nervous about the shoot. “I didn’t want to be naked or something on the front of a magazine unless everybody knew it was a joke,” she explained. She worried her country audience might misunderstand her intentions.
Eventually, she saw the cover as an opportunity to showcase her humor. “Playboy’s a real classy magazine,” she said. “And who else but Dolly Parton should be on the cover of Playboy? I just hope people will take it in the spirit in which I did it—something cute and off-the-wall for me.”
Revisiting the Look Years Later
In 2021, Parton brought the look back for her husband Carl Dean’s birthday. Though the magazine was no longer in print, she wore a similar black corset and bunny ears. She even framed a photo that paired the new image with the original cover. “He still thinks I’m a hot chick after 57 years,” she said, “and I’m not going to try to talk him out of that.”
Despite her bold style, Parton has never viewed herself as a sex symbol. “I never thought of myself as sexy,” she said. “I like looking gaudy, but I do it for me, and he likes me either way.”