The article argues that Dolly Parton played an overlooked but important role in bringing Buffy the Vampire Slayer to television. Through her production company Sandollar Productions, Parton helped support the redevelopment of the poorly received 1992 film into the successful television series, which became a major cultural phenomenon.

Sandollar executive Gail Berman encouraged creator Joss Whedon to rework Buffy for television, leading to the Sarah Michelle Gellar-led series on The WB. Parton was an uncredited producer across Buffy’s 144 episodes and seven seasons, while Sandollar also co-produced its spin-off Angel, which ran for five seasons. Parton said in 2021 that she was proud to have been involved, though she was not responsible for the programmes’ daily operations.