3 Times Dolly Parton Stunned In Bob Mackie-Styled Designs

American fashion designer Bob Mackie was responsible for some of the most memorable dresses in show business, so it comes as no surprise that the designer frequently styled the ever-dazzling Dolly Parton. Mackie created the daring "naked dress" that Cher wore to the 1974 Met Gala. In fact, Mackie dressed her so many times that there's an extensive compilation of Cher's best Bob Mackie-styled red carpet moments. Mackie created Tina Turner's 1979 orange flame dress, and he even did the initial sketch for Marilyn Monroe's iconic 1962 "Happy Birthday" dress. 

With Mackie making history with his designs and penchant for daring looks, it makes sense that he frequently collaborated with Parton. After all, Parton has an impressive archive of outfits that are as over-the-top as her raucous personality, and Mackie was responsible for many of these. Mackie passed away on September 14, 2026, only a few weeks after Parton herself died. In life, the two saw eye-to-eye on fashion and style. Mackie famously said, "A woman who wears my clothes is not afraid to be noticed." Considering Parton's love of rhinestones, sequins, and tassels, and remembering Parton's love of wigs, which she wore for such a relatable reason, it makes perfect sense that Parton so frequently stunned in Mackie's designs. She was not afraid of being noticed, and Mackie made sure she looked good when she was. 

Dolly Parton wore a Bob Mackie creation when she appeared on a CBS special, "Dolly & Carol in Nashville," alongside Carol Burnett in 1979. The stunning red dress was bold and outrageous; fans would expect nothing less of both Parton and Mackie. The dress featured a sheer lace overlay, covering Parton's décolletage and arms. It also had a bold rose at the throat and additional 3D roses along the hem. The mermaid silhouette offered a form fitting skirt around Parton's hips, with a decadent burst of volume right at the base. 

There was a specific reason why Parton wore a classic red gown during the special. The show was on TV on Valentine's Day and Parton, never one to miss a celebratory moment, decided to lean into the holiday of love. But they didn't record the show on Valentine's Day; that happened a few months earlier. When Parton died on August 25, 2026, Burnett jumped on Instagram to share her memories of the special night. "I'm so sad right now," Burnett began. "One of my favorite memories was taping the special 'Carol and Dolly' in Nashville. We shot the week of Thanksgiving and Dolly made individual turkey dinners for every one of us, that she cooked herself. We were a family. That's who she was." It's a touching memory for an event studded in gorgeous outfits, particularly the ones designed by Mackie. 

Bob Mackie designed another special dress for Dolly Parton when she appeared alongside Carol Burnett on the 1979 special "Dolly & Carol in Nashville." The sensational black gown was covered in sequins and beading, cascading out into sheer bell sleeves that were meant to replicate a butterfly's wings. Parton loved the dress so much that she ended up wearing it for future performances. . 

Parton has long been associated with butterflies. The beloved insect even wound its way into the sign for Dollywood, Parton's theme park in Tennessee, as well as into the name of one of her songs, "Life Is Like a Butterfly." In Parton's 2020 memoir, "Dolly Parton Songteller: My Life in Lyrics," Parton explained why she felt so connected to them. "I have loved butterflies from the time I was very little," Parton wrote. "I used to get lost in the woods, chasing them. I was not afraid of them, because they were so gentle. I knew they weren't going to bite me or sting me. They were beautiful and colorful, and they were doing something, being productive and being harmless." No wonder Parton loved Mackie's butterfly design; the dress clearly struck a deep chord with her. 

Dolly Parton and Oprah Winfrey both sparkled in Bob Mackie gowns when they filmed the "Dolly" variety show in 1987. Oprah wore a stunning black gown with gold beading along the shoulders and a keyhole cutout along the neckline. Meanwhile, Parton wore a gold gown with silver beading and statement shoulder pads. 

When Parton passed away, Oprah shared a tribute to the songwriter on Instagram. "One of my fondest memories with [Dolly Parton]: Having a hoot and a holler while wearing Bob Mackie gowns on her show 'Dolly,'" Winfrey wrote. Clearly, the Mackie gowns were a key part of that memory, and it's no wonder. The two women dazzled together thanks to Mackie's love of sequins and an extra touch of sparkle. It wasn't just Oprah who got wistful about Parton when she died. Mackie himself paid tribute to Parton on Instagram, referring to their sartorial work together. "Dolly was a lovely soul and spirit who was fair to everyone," Mackie wrote. "She was a joy and pleasure to dress." For Winfrey and for Mackie himself, a core part of their memories around Parton had to do with her love of beauty and her dazzling skill at self expression.