Jennifer Aniston, who produced the film, used a number of Dolly Parton's classic songs on the soundtrack since the main character, Willowdean, is a huge Dolly Parton fan. Aniston also got Parton to write some new songs for the film, including the theme song.
Danielle Macdonald and Jennifer Aniston recorded the song "Push and Pull" with Dolly Parton for the movie. Aniston said she got really emotional after they finished singing the song because "it was a childhood dream come true."
During an Interview, Julie Murphy admitted that Jennifer Aniston mistook one of the Dolly queens (Jason Cozmo, who impersonates Dolly regularly) for Dolly Parton herself.
When Julie Murphy saw Maddie Baillio in Hairspray Live! (2016), she immediately E-mailed the producers and asked them to figure out a way to use her for the movie.