Kate Hudson is a close second, Witherspoon says: “She sings like the best bluesy lounge singer in the land.”Ĥ. Neil Patrick Harris once got the honor of singing the “five golden rings” solo in “The 12 Days of Christmas,” and he was “the best” soloist she’s had. Musicians (it’s left up to the imagination who exactly) play her piano and everyone sings the classic songs. The annual holiday bash includes biscuits and ham, natch. Witherspoon hosts a caroling party for A-listers. “Beyond being a fabulous entertainer, she’s a wonderful person.”ģ. “She continues to inspire me to no end,” Witherspoon gushes. Witherspoon says they have kept in touch “and she’s remained a very caring and supportive figure in my life.” She even asked permission to use the insignia “What would Dolly do?” for her lifestyle brand Draper James, named after her nieces. More even than the great insights she had, she gave me courage.” She was incredibly generous with her time and her experiences, which really helped inform my performance. She told me stories from her life in country music and so many things she knew about the Carter family and especially Johnny Cash.

Parton reached out and offered to meet and help Witherspoon prepare for the role: “I was over the moon.” “One of those generous people was Dolly,” Witherspoon says. Her father was a surgeon in Nashville, and when some of his patients heard Witherspoon was playing Johnny Cash’s wife, they sent videos and pictures to help her be authentic. Parton, to Witherspoon, is “the ultimate Southern icon.” She grew up telling teachers she wanted to be Parton when she grew up. Parton helped Witherspoon with her award-winning performance in Walk the Line. She declares, “If each of those women is an instrument, that scene is a symphony!”Ģ. Those few minutes manage to showcase the beauty of Southern female friendships and how important beauty shop politics are - and the scene even advances the plot,” Witherspoon says.

You realize that scene must have taken three days to shoot - and was worth every second.

“So much happens in that 11-minute scene (yes, I’ve timed it) that I am always in awe.

Whiskey teacup