In 1982, Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds starred in *The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas*, a film adaptation of the successful Broadway musical. Although the film performed strongly, its provocative title and subject matter made distribution difficult in some American markets, while Parton later described the making of it as a deeply unpleasant experience.

The story centres on a long-running Texas brothel threatened by a television evangelist, with Parton playing its madam and Reynolds portraying her love interest. Production was marked by widespread dismissals of people connected to the original stage show, and Parton felt guilty over the replacement of music supervisor Richard Baskin by her bandleader. She was also dealing with health problems, while Reynolds faced career pressures, and said the experience contrasted sharply with her happier work on *Nine to Five*.