Dolly Parton, who died in August 2026, was a vocal gay ally, so it's not surprising that "Two Doors Down," an episode of her Netflix series,
Dolly Parton's Heartstrings featured a coming out story for Evangelical audiences. It won a GLAAD Award in 2020, so let's take a look.
Intro: Dolly explains that when she wrote the song "Two Doors Down" in 1977, she was on the road a lot, away from her family, but she found a new family with her crew, which was composed of "all kinds of people: different colors, gay, lesbian, transgender, different faiths, but we all loved each other. Love is love."
Scene 1: Singing "Two Doors Down," naturally, Ty (Broadway actor Andy Mientus) drives down country roads "to the place I belong" (sorry, wrong song). Switch to Mom busily micro-managing his sister Lee's upcoming wedding, and wondering why she looks so miserable. Could it be...Mom butting in?
Scene 2: They all arrive at the elegant hotel in the South. I thought they would be hillbillies, but Mom is loaded! Mom tells Ty that he's sure to get a lot of attention from the ladies at the wedding, because her Gay is buying his outfit: "that's the one thing gays are good for, right? Fashion!"
Estranged Dad (Ray McKinnon) arrives. Now that's a hillbilly! He looks like he just finished huntin' possums with Jed Clampett (there actually is a dead deer in the back of his truck).
Scene 3: Ty discusses his secret with his boyfriend, the uber-swishy Cole (Michael J. Willett), who coincidentally is the wedding planner. "As you know, Dear, I'm not out to my family, due to Mom's homophobia. When marriage equality arrived, she said it was the end of the world. But I'm going to tell them all this weekend."
During your sister's wedding? Wouldn't that be stealing the spotlight?
Back story: they are having a long-distance relationship problem. Cole lives in Atlanta, and Ty lives in Athens, 72 miles away.
Ulp, Cole hides in the closet as Mom comes in. She discusses the life-threatening Steel Magnolias disease that she had last year, which left her "a sentimental puddle," so she really wants Ty to find a girl.
Scene 4: In the absurdly elegant parlor, Sister and her fiance Digby are discussing their secret: "As you know, Sweetheart, after the wedding we are leaving small-town Atlanta for Los Angeles so I can pursue my acting career. Don't tell Mom!"
Digby?Scene 5: Mom and Estranged Dad discuss their secret: "As you know, Dumbbell, we hate each other. I think you're a country bumpkin, and you think I'm a rich snob. We're going to get a divorce. But don' t tell the kids!" Uh-oh, dark secrets all the way down.
Scene 6: Ty comes out to Sister in the stupidest way possible: "Seeing you and Digby so happy has made me realize that I'm happy, too. So happy that you might say I'm...gay."
Sister is proud of him for having the courage to come out. Digby? How did the poor guy survive middle school? "You can tell Dad, but don't tell Mom. She'll stick her head in the oven."
Sister tells Ty her secret about moving. Whoops, for a wedding present, Mom and Dad bought them a house in Atlanta, so how can they move to L.A.?
Scene 7: Sister trying on wedding dresses with Ty's boyfriend Cole and her gal pal, Mim Tinkelpaugh (
and I thought Digby got bullied a lot!).
Gal Pal Mim is trying to get with Ty. Sister explains that he's...um...seeing someone, har har.
Mom comes in to complain about Cousin Renee (Aidan Langford) doing something weird "with her bridesmaid's dress." Sister explains that they have come out as nonbinary, and prefer the name Ren. Mom huffs: "More LGBT XYZ nonsense! You give me one week with her, and I'll straighten her out!"
More after the break.