Days after the music world lost Dolly Parton, Sylvester Stallone has shared a heartfelt farewell to his old Rhinestone co-star. In a video posted to his official Instagram, the action legend reflected on the country icon who once called him a friend on set — and told fans a story about their time together that captures exactly who Parton was.
What Stallone said
Alongside a clip of the two of them, Stallone wrote: “It’s hard to imagine a world without Dolly Parton. An American icon and a brilliant woman, beloved by so many. I have many fond memories of our time on the set of Rhinestone.”
Speaking to his followers, he went further, describing Parton as someone who lit up a room. “She would come onto the set and say, ‘Hi y’all’ to every one of the crew members. Everyone loved her,” he recalled.
A horse ride that went hilariously wrong
In the video, Stallone shared a story from a break in filming that he framed as pure Dolly. While shooting the 1984 comedy in Tennessee, the cast and crew were taken to a horse farm where they bred Tennessee walking horses — the high-stepping, showy animals that are famously hard to ride.
As he told it, the owner pointed him at a “favorite gray stallion” and suggested Dolly ride behind him. Stallone, who has ridden all his life, climbed on what he described as “like riding a building.” When he asked if she was okay, Parton’s reply was pure Dolly: “Sure, I am, honey. Go ahead.”
That is when the prancing began — and Parton, per Stallone, reacted exactly the way anyone who knew her would expect.
The Rhinestone chapter
| Film | Rhinestone (1984) |
| Co-stars | Sylvester Stallone, Dolly Parton |
| Box office | Under $22 million on a $28 million budget |
| Cast note | Stallone sang a set of original songs |
| Parton’s verdict | “One of the best times I’ve had making a movie” |
Rhinestone found fame as a curiosity — an over-the-top comedy where Stallone, belting out original country numbers, leaned hard into humor he was rarely known for. Critics were brutal, and the picture lost money at the box office. But Parton never soured on it. She wrote in her autobiography: “I guess the public didn’t want to see Sylvester Stallone do comedy — or see me do Sylvester Stallone.”
Just a few weeks ago she shared a throwback post about the film, calling it “one of the best times I’ve had making a movie.” You can read more about the wider reaction, and the details of Parton’s passing, in our earlier coverage of Dolly Parton’s death at 80.
Watch: What the videos show
Sylvester Stallone’s Tribute to Dolly Parton After Her Death
- Stallone opens up about learning the news: “I just heard that Dolly Parton passed away and this strikes me very hard.”
- He calls her “a brilliant woman” who greeted every crew member with a warm “Hi y’all,” and shares the full Tennessee horse-story from the Rhinestone set.
Dolly Parton Rates Sylvester Stallone’s Singing on ‘Rhinestone’
- In archive footage, Parton playfully sizes up duetting with Stallone, who she says brought “a lot more energy” than you’d expect.
- She notes neither she nor Stallone claimed to be great singers, but both were willing to try — part of why the bond stuck.
Why it matters
Two of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars were, for one strange, singing, horse-filled moment in the 1980s, perfect scene partners. Stallone’s tribute is a reminder of the warmth people across generations felt for Parton — and of a movie nobody can forget, however much of it was a flop.
Sources: JoBlo, People, IMDb
