Dolly Parton Slept as Little as 3 Hours and Handled Her Own Hair and Makeup on Set, Says Costar Danica McKellar: 'She Was Always Dreaming Stuff Up'

Dolly Parton's former costar Danica McKellar opened up about what the country music icon was like behind the scenes.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, published Friday, August 28, McKellar shared that Parton told her she would sleep as little as three to five hours a night and then wake up to do her own hair and makeup.

"She told me she only slept three to five hours a night. She was always dreaming stuff up and just busy. She'd sleep on her big travel bus, if she was traveling and doing things, and wake up early in the morning... She did her own hair and makeup, her own wig and her own makeup. And she'd get to work," McKellar said.

McKellar's relationship with Parton began through Parton's Imagination Library, a program that mails free children's books to kids from birth until they turn 5, which featured McKellar's children's book, Goodnight, Numbers, as part of its catalog.

McKellar later narrated the documentary "The Library That Dolly Built" about Parton's global book gifting program, which came out in 2020.

She also pitched the idea for the 2019 Hallmark movie Christmas at Dollywood, in which she starred alongside the "Jolene" singer.

McKellar told the news outlet that the "9 to 5" singer was "everything that you hope she could possibly be and much more."

"She's incredible, great work ethic. She wanted to rehearse a lot, and I was like, 'I would love to rehearse with you.' I'd love to just be in her presence. She was incredible," she added. "She walked on the set and made everyone feel comfortable because people were so nervous to meet Dolly Parton."

"And she just walked on this set and said, 'Merry Christmas, everybody.' Like to the whole room and everyone just was charmed, like that was it," she continued.

McKellar believes the star would want her legacy to remind people to treat one another with kindness.

"Because she knew how to make everybody feel good about themselves," McKellar shared. "That's what she taught me the most. And what I think is her message for the world: treat each other kindly. You have a choice. You have so much power, more power than you realize."

As OK! previously reported, the Steel Magnolias actress passed away peacefully on August 25, 2026, at age 80 after what her team shared was a "brief battle with cancer."

The country music legend died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones.