For Dolly Parton, bold nails were more than just a fashion statement; they were a true outlet for creative expression.
The late country music legend credited her long acrylic nails as a source of inspiration for her hit song, “9 to 5,” which she wrote on set of her 1980 workplace comedy of the same name. During a 1981 interview on Sacramento’s KCRA 3, she revealed she used her nails to “get the rhythm” before demonstrating for the audience. “Ladies and gentlemen, you are now viewing the newest instrument on the market,” she joked before adding, “I’ve become famous for these nails.”
Years later, she told Jimmy Fallon that her nails “sounded like a typewriter to me,” making the choice even more apt. “I never heard anyone play their nails,” she said during her appearance on The Tonight Show. “I played it on the actual record, and it says ‘Nails by Dolly’ on the album.”
Nails by Dolly may sound like the OPI collab of our dreams, but you don’t need to know her exact favorite shade of candy-apple-red nail polish to honor the late musician and philanthropist during our collective and ongoing period of mourning. All over social media, fans are using bold nail designs to honor the icon, who died of cancer at 80 years old in late August.
“Dolly loved her signature long, square-shaped nails, and they were always an extension of her fun, extravagant, sparkling personality,” says celebrity nail artist Loi Lien. “She gravitated toward reds, pinks, and classic French tips, but she also loved anything with a little extra glamour.”
Of course, Parton would never shy away from rhinestones and glitter. “Reflective pink and red glitters would be perfect for her, as would a dimensional red cat-eye,” Lien continues. “I could also see her loving a mix of pink and red together—bold, feminine, and very Dolly.”
