Sydney Sweeney Channels Dolly Parton Amid American Eagle Controversy

In the movie, Sweeney plays Penny Jo, a waitress who wants to be a country music star, just like Dolly Parton.

We’re not sure if we’re ready for a Dolly Parton biopic, as the singer’s authenticity and pure spirit seem difficult to truly capture on the big screen. But if it were to happen, there is a strong case for who should play her. Sydney Sweeney.

Why? Sure, there’s that whole American Eagle controversy still going on. However, after seeing Sweeney’s character poster for the indie thriller Americana, where she plays a waitress and aspiring country star named Penny Jo, we think she’s made her case.

What’s Americana About?

Here’s the synopsis from Lionsgate, the studio releasing the film:

“A gallery of dynamic characters clash over the possession of a rare Native American artifact in this wildly entertaining modern-day western. After the artifact falls onto the black market, a shy waitress with big dreams (Sydney Sweeney) teams up with a lovelorn military veteran (Paul Walter Hauser) to gain possession of it, putting them in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal (Eric Dane) working on behalf of a Western antiquities dealer (Simon Rex). Bloodshed ensues when others join the battle, including the leader of an indigenous group (Zahn McClarnon) and a desperate woman fleeing her mysterious past (Halsey).”

Does Sydney Sweeney Want to Play Dolly Parton?

We don’t know if Sweeney would want to play Parton. However, Penny Jo, Sweeney’s character in Americana, idolizes the “9 To 5” singer.

“Dolly is definitely her biggest aspirational role model,” Sweeney recently told Entertainment Weekly. “Dolly is almost like a godlike figure to Penny Jo, and I really wanted to make sure that we had the aspirations of being Dolly, but then, she doesn’t have the resources.”

Penny Jo’s character poster bears a striking resemblance to the cover for Parton’s 1974 breakthrough album ‘Jolene.’ On it, Parton sits cross-legged on the floor, but it’s her beautiful bob of blond hair that gets all the attention.

In the Sweeney version, the actress is wearing a bandana, but her flowing locks fall over her flannel shirt down to her acoustic guitar. While it’s not an exact recreation of the ‘Jolene’ cover, the font and design definitely capture the spirit of Parton’s album. Flip through the Instagram post below to see it for yourself.

The Other Americana Characters Have Their Own Country Music Posters, Too

The other characters also get in on the fun. Each of the actors takes on a country music star who embodies their character best.

Paul Walter Hauser takes on Willie Nelson’s ‘Red Headed Stranger,’ while Halsey embodies The Man in Black for the compilation ‘The Legend of Johnny Cash.’ Simon Rex is almost a dead ringer for Chris Stapleton. (No actor could grow a beard as epic as the “Tennessee Whiskey” singer’s.) However, Eric Dane’s take on Dwight Yoakam’s This Time is almost perfect. Zahn McClarnon is in the crosshairs of the ‘Shotgun Willie’ tribute, while John Prine’s debut is represented by Gavin Maddox Berman’s poster.

No word if Parton has seen Sweeney’s performance, but knowing the singer, she’ll likely be flattered.