Emmy Rossum Reflects on 'Down-to-Earth' Dolly Parton and Their 'Mother-Daughter Duet'

Emmy Rossum recently shared fond memories of her time working with the late Dolly Parton on a song for the 2000 film "Songcatcher." Rossum, who was a child actor at the time, recalled the experience of recording a "mother-daughter duet" with Parton, describing the music icon as "down-to-earth" and an "excellent teacher."

Parton, a native of Appalachia, composed the song "When Love Is New" specifically for the film and flew Rossum to Nashville to record the duet. "She could really make you feel special, but also teach," Rossum said during an appearance at The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast. "She was so down-to-earth, and she was a really excellent teacher because she was the perfect blend of compliment sandwich but it felt honest."

The indie film "Songcatcher" followed a musicologist collecting music in the Appalachian mountains, with Rossum playing a young orphan who helps the musicologist discover traditional ballads. The role earned Rossum an Independent Spirit Award nomination.

Rossum recounted how Parton was asked by producers to contribute a song to the film's soundtrack and expressed a desire to write a duet for herself and Rossum. "Somehow Dolly saw 'Songcatcher' after the producers asked her if she might be interested in doing a song on the soundtrack and she said, 'Wow, I'd really like to write a duet for me and this girl who's in the movie to sing,'" Rossum told CNN in 2001. "She flew me out there, and we recorded it, and it's like a mother/daughter duet about a girl who wants to run off and get married."

Reflecting on the experience last month on the Pretty Tough podcast, Rossum mentioned that she only spent a couple of days with Parton but cherished the time. "She was just such a joy and such a light and I only met her those two days but I loved both of them," she said.

Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80 in August, following a brief battle with cancer. Her representatives stated that she "departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones." They also highlighted her "unmatched generosity" and the impact of her work, including her Imagination Library and funding cancer research.