Dolly Parton continues to be a beloved icon — if ratings for the recent tribute specials across four different networks are any indication. ABC, CBS, NBC and The CW all attracted decent-sized crowds for quickly-scheduled specials that aired in late August — not particularly a time for major viewership. Among the highlights, ABC aired a repeat of the 1980 film “9 to 5” (a rarity in itself, for a broadcast network to run a movie that old) on Sunday, Aug. 30 that averaged 4.275 million viewers in live+same day ratings — the most-watched film on a broadcast network in more than three and a half years (since December 2022).
It was also the most-watched film on ABC in nearly six years, since Dec. 20, 2020 (another classic, “The Sound of Music”). Parton died of cancer on Aug. 25 at age 80. That same day, ABC aired the ABC News-produced “Dolly Parton: An American Original — Special Edition of 20/20,” hosted by “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir, which averaged 4.051 million total viewers.
That made it No. 1 in its 10 p.m. time slot (beating CBS’ Parton special in that same slot) and was the best non-sports telecast at 10 p.m. in three months (since May, with NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” season finale). On Disney+ and Hulu, “Dolly Parton: An American Original” was the most-viewed title on Aug. 26, during its first day of streaming. Also that evening, CBS News was behind “A CBS News Special: Dolly Parton—An American Idol,” anchored by “CBS Mornings’” Gayle King and “CBS Evening News’” Tony Dokoupil, along with CBS News senior culture and senior national correspondent Anthony Mason.
The special averaged 2.085 million viewers. On Wednesday, Aug. 26, NBC aired “Dolly: An NBC News Special,” anchored by Lester Holt. The special initially did 3.952 million viewers, and has since grown to 4.5 million viewers with Peacock included.
Also on Wednesday, The CW aired an encore presentation of its special “Dolly Parton: Here I Am,” which averaged 1.299 million viewers — a large number for the netlet. Then, on Sunday, besides “9 to 5,” ABC rebroadcast “Dolly Parton: An American Original,” which attracted an additional 3.566 million viewers. And on CBS that evening, with an assist from its “60 Minutes” lead-in, the Eye’s “Entertainment Tonight” special “Remembering Dolly: A Rhinestone Life” averaged 5.326 million viewers.
That special, hosted by “ET” anchors Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, included Parton’s first interview with the entertainment newsmag in 1982, all the way up to her final chat with the show. The special also included interviews and tributes from Dionne Warwick, Melissa Etheridge, Diane Warren, Debbie Allen, Jennifer Nettles and others. The Parton news also had an impact on the evening news broadcasts: On August 25, the day of Parton’s death, “World News Tonight with David Muir” averaged 9.2 million viewers; for the week, “World News Tonight” garnered its largest weekly viewership in five months.
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