Julia Stiles Honors Dolly Parton on Dancing With the Stars

Actress Julia Stiles made her debut on the ABC competition series "Dancing With the Stars" on September 24, 2024, honoring music legend Dolly Parton. Stiles and her professional dance partner, Pasha Pashkov, performed a contemporary dance routine to Parton's iconic 1980 hit song "9 to 5." The performance marked Stiles's first appearance in the current season of the long-running reality competition, which features celebrities paired with professional dancers.

"9 to 5" is one of Dolly Parton's most recognizable songs, released as the theme song for the 1980 film of the same name, in which Parton also starred. The song became a major commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Its lyrics, which address the struggles and frustrations of working women, have resonated with audiences for decades and continue to be an anthem for female empowerment in the workplace.

Julia Stiles, known for her roles in films such as "10 Things I Hate About You" and the "Bourne" franchise, expressed her admiration for Dolly Parton prior to her "Dancing With the Stars" performance. Stiles has spoken about her appreciation for Parton's career and cultural impact. The choice of "9 to 5" for her debut routine aimed to capture the spirit and energy of the song, reflecting Stiles's own approach to her new challenge on the dance floor. The judges' scores and audience reception for Stiles's performance will be revealed later in the episode.

"Dancing With the Stars" typically features a panel of judges who score each performance, contributing to the overall outcome alongside viewer votes. The show has a history of pairing celebrities from various fields, including acting, music, and sports, with professional dancers to compete in a series of ballroom and Latin dances. Stiles's participation adds another prominent figure to the show's roster of celebrity contestants for the 2024 season, with her tribute to Dolly Parton serving as a memorable opening to her journey on the competition.