Dolly Parton's Wrestling Wedding With Hulk Hogan

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Dolly Parton's Wrestling Wedding With Hulk Hogan

Originally posted on The Sportster | By Shawn Van Horn | Last updated Aug 25, 2026 8:01 PM ET

On August 25, 2026, news broke that Dolly Parton had died at the age of 80. The country music legend and actor was universally beloved. From her hit songs and movies like 9 to 5, along with the Dollywood amusement park and her Imagination Library, Parton had done it all. She was pop culture. As one of the most famous people in America, a country is now in mourning. Let's not dwell in sadness though. Parton lived a fantastic life, and her self-deprecating humor was among her greatest charms. As an example, look no further than the time she got married to none other than WWE megastar Hulk Hogan... sort of.

Dolly Parton Was Often a Target of Tabloid Magazines

Dolly Parton was in the spotlight for nearly 60 years. With her immense fame also came immense criticism. Parton wasn't shy about the fact that she'd had plastic surgery and breast augmentation to alter her looks. In fact, she embraced it, and if someone made fun of her, chances were she'd already beaten them to it. Her ability to laugh at herself and not act like she was above everyone else is part of what made Dolly so easy to love.

Just last week, Parton shared an update about her with People, telling the outlet:

“But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’! You know me — as I’ve often said — I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”

Hulk Hogan Starred in Dolly Parton's "Headlock on My Heart" Music Video

From 1987 to 1988, Dolly Parton had her own variety show on ABC simply called Dolly. On the very first episode, she did a music video with Hulk Hogan, which she later talked about on another episode.

"I wrote that because, in one of those gossip magazines, you know, where they tell everything that ain't true. Well, they predicted that I would fall in love with a 300-pound wrestler, and that I would make a video and all that."

Again, able to have fun with her persona, Parton didn't get upset about the wild tabloids. Instead, she embraced the craziness and turned it into entertainment. In the video, Hulk Hogan, during the peak of Hulkamania, plays a professional wrestler named Starlight Starbright. Parton is in the stands watching him during a match, in awe of the man she's such a fan of. The two eventually meet and Starbright carries Parton out of the arena in his arms. The next time we see them, they're in the ring getting married, with Parton in a white dress and Hogan, er, Starbright sporting an armless tuxedo. After the nuptials, husband and wife kiss and walk away. Before the video ends, Parton looks at the camera and says, "I guess you could say he's pinned me down for a lifetime."

"Headlock on My Heart" is no "Jolene," but it's not meant to be. It's a silly video with a catchy song, the epitome of the fun times that were the 1980s. May both Dolly Parton and Hulk Hogan rest in peace.