Dolly Parton (Nine To Five) is set to make her return to the big screen after a nearly 20 year absence in an upcoming gospel themed musical alongside Queen Latifah (Chicago). In the project, titled Joyful Noise, the pair will play rivals who team up to save their gospel choir. THR announced that the project will be written and directed by Todd Graff (Camp, Bandslam) for Alcon Entertainment.
Both women are no stranger to musicals; Latifah was nominated for an Oscar for her work in Chicago and Parton starred in the big screen adaptation of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (along with two Oscar nominations for composing the theme songs for Nine To Five and Transamerica).
Latifah has proven herself to be an immensely likeable screen presence and an inspirational gospel themed movie could provide the perfect platform for her charm. It will be interesting to see how audiences respond to Parton whose last hit film was 1989’s Steel Magnolias. She’s equally as charismatic on screen as Latifah and her country/gospel background should make her a great fit for this story.
Are you excited to see Dolly Parton back on screen? What do you make of the pairing of a country legend with hip hop royalty?