Part 3
First, number three: smart ass MCs who introduce her by saying, “and now here they are, Dolly Parton.” Did you catch that? “They.” Plural. As if Dolly is a whole squad. Maybe it’s a nod to her larger-than-life presence — she walks in and suddenly there’s enough charisma for five people. Or maybe it’s a wink at her band, the ones who make that bigger-than-life sound possible. Either way, the joke lands because it’s true. Dolly isn’t just a person; she’s an event. And any MC who reduces her to a single pronoun is missing the point.
Think about it: when you introduce Dolly Parton, you’re not just introducing a singer. You’re introducing a brand, a theme park, a movie star, a cultural force. The plural is almost an understatement. But the pet peeve is real — because Dolly knows exactly who she is, and she wants you to get it right. It’s a small thing, but it says everything about how she sees herself: as a one-woman universe. And honestly? She’s earned it.
Now, number two: when the Super Bowl is over, the winner never says, “Hey, I’m going to Dollywood.” Ouch. That’s a direct shot at the most famous post-game tradition in sports: “I’m going to Disney World!” You know the one. It started in 1987 with Phil Simms of the New York Giants after Super Bowl XXI. The campaign became a pop culture staple, with everyone from Joe Montana to Tom Brady shouting it into a camera. But Dolly wants that same treatment for her own theme park. And why not? Dollywood is in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and it’s grown into a major destination — millions of visitors a year, dozens of rides, and a whole lot of Dolly. She’s not asking for much. Just for the biggest sports stars on the planet to name-drop her park instead of Mickey’s.
What does this joke reveal about Dolly’s ambitions? Everything. She doesn’t just want to be a country legend or a pop crossover. She wants Dollywood to be as iconic as Disney World. She wants it to be the place you dream about after you win the big game. That’s not ego — that’s vision. And it’s the same vision that turned a small Tennessee town into a tourist magnet. Dolly built an empire, and she’s not shy about wanting it to be the center of the universe. The Super Bowl joke is funny because it’s absurd. But it’s also a little bit serious. Because if anyone could make “I’m going to Dollywood” a thing, it’s her.
So there you have it: two pet peeves that are really about respect and reach. Number three is about being seen as the full package. Number two is about wanting her park to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the biggest names in entertainment. And both are delivered with that signature Dolly wink. She’s not mad — she’s just saying what everyone else is thinking. Next up, we hit number one. And trust me, it’s the punchline that brings the house down.
Stop 5: Number 1 — The Punchline That Brings the House Down
And here we are. The final stop on our tour. The payoff. After nine pet peeves that took us through accountants, fire hazards, and a surprisingly stingy Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton leans into the microphone and delivers the line that still echoes through the Ed Sullivan Theater: "Nobody notices I've got a great ass too."
It's a killer. But why? Let's unpack it.
First, notice the structure. This isn't just a random joke. It's the culmination of a list that has been building a specific image of Dolly — the wigs, the nails, the theme park, the larger-than-life persona. We've been laughing at the trappings of her fame. And then she pulls the rug out. She reminds us that underneath all that, there's a body she's proud of, and she wants credit for all of it. Not just the obvious part.
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The genius is that it's self-deprecating and boastful at the exact same time. She's joking about being overlooked, but the joke is that she's not overlooked at all — she's Dolly Parton. She's been a sex symbol for decades, and she knows it. But she's also saying: you think you know me? You think it's all about the bust? Surprise. There's more to appreciate.
And the delivery? The transcript shows her saying it plainly, no embellishment. That's the key. Dolly doesn't need to sell it. She just drops it, and the audience does the rest. You can almost hear the beat of silence before the roar. The buildup — all those numbers, all that anticipation — pays off in a single, perfectly timed punchline.
This is Dolly's comedy style in a nutshell. She's been making jokes about her own body and image for as long as she's been famous. Think about her 1978 album "Here You Come Again" — the title alone is a wink. Or her 1980 film debut in "9 to 5," where she played a secretary who's constantly underestimated. She's always been in on the joke, and she invites us to laugh with her, not at her. She reclaims the narrative on her own terms.
It's worth noting that Dolly Parton has been a frequent guest on "Late Show with David Letterman." She first appeared in 1987 and returned many times over the years. But this particular list, from a 2017 episode, is one of her most memorable appearances. It's the perfect blend of her music career, her business empire, and her undeniable charisma.
