Dolly Parton is appearing on screens again in a new commercial filmed shortly before her death at age 80. The country legend stars in an ad for Cup of Ambition, the coffee brand inspired by one of the most famous lines from her classic song “9 to 5.”
According to Entertainment Weekly, the Dolly Parton coffee commercial arrived more than a month after her Aug. 25 death and offers fans another glimpse of the singer’s familiar humor, style, and work ethic. Filmed in July, the spot shows Parton pouring coffee from a pink pot while sitting at a bright vanity as “9 to 5” plays in the background.
Dolly Parton Coffee Commercial Brings “9 to 5” Back to Life
The ad leans heavily into the playful spirit of “9 to 5,” the 1980 film Parton starred in alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The coffee brand takes its name from the song’s famous “cup of ambition” lyric, making the project a direct nod to one of the most enduring hits of Parton’s career.
In the commercial, Parton sips coffee, strums her guitar, and gets ready at her vanity. An animated version of her appears in the mirror and copies her movements before staying behind for one last sip after Parton leaves the frame. The whimsical moment feels unmistakably in line with the colorful personality fans associated with her for decades.
Parton Left Behind a Long List of Projects
Cup of Ambition was one of several ventures Parton worked on before her death. Her manager, Danny Nozell, said the singer continued working until the end and had carefully planned projects that could continue bringing her ideas to audiences for years. Other projects include Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee, as well as Nashville’s SongTeller Hotel and Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum. She also worked on Dolly: A True Original Musical, a jewelry collaboration with Kendra Scott, a pet food line, and home décor products.
Dollywood has also announced permanent memorials honoring Parton, including a commemorative waterfall and kiosks where visitors can leave messages about how she inspired them. The Dolly Parton coffee commercial now feels like more than a product advertisement. It captures the same combination of music, humor, ambition, and warmth that defined much of her public life. For longtime fans, seeing Parton at that pink vanity one more time offers a bittersweet reminder of just how much she created right up until the end.