A surprising piece of 1980s television history has resurfaced: Dolly Parton and Hulk Hogan once appeared to “get married” in a wrestling ring.
But before anyone takes the story literally, there is an important detail — the two never married in real life. The wedding was part of a playful television performance created for Parton’s 1987 variety show, Dolly.
The unusual pairing came about after Parton encountered tabloid rumors suggesting that she had fallen for a professional wrestler and might even marry a 300-pound wrestler. Rather than ignore the story, Parton decided to turn the rumor into comedy.
She wrote the tongue-in-cheek song “Headlock on My Heart” and brought Hulk Hogan into the project. Hogan appeared as “Starlight Starbright,” his larger-than-life wrestling persona, in a music video that played up the ridiculous romance.
The video eventually reaches its most memorable moment: Parton and Hogan take part in a mock wedding inside the wrestling ring. Hogan even carries Parton in his arms, creating one of the most unexpected celebrity pairings of the era.
The segment aired as part of the premiere of Dolly on September 27, 1987. The ABC variety series mixed music, comedy and celebrity appearances, and Hogan was among the guests featured in the first episode.
The joke was especially fitting because Parton had already been married to Carl Dean since 1966. The Hogan “wedding” was simply her playful way of turning a tabloid rumor into entertainment.
Decades later, photos and clips from the segment continue to resurface online, leaving many people wondering whether the country icon and wrestling superstar really tied the knot.
They didn’t — but for a few minutes on 1980s television, Dolly Parton and Hulk Hogan certainly made it look that way.