In 1987, Dolly Parton and Hulk Hogan created one of television’s most unexpected and memorable moments with a live wrestling ring “wedding” on Dolly’s ABC variety show. The segment combined country music charm with wrestling theatrics, reflecting the playful and over-the-top energy of the 1980s.
The show began with Dolly performing a lighthearted song called “Headlock on My Heart,” which humorously referenced tabloid rumors linking her to wrestlers. Her lyrics, full of wit and playful imagery, described a woman “pinned” by love, setting a humorous and theatrical tone for the ceremony that followed.
The audience responded with laughter and cheers, enjoying the unusual blend of music and wrestling entertainment. Hulk Hogan entered next, performing as a campy, exaggerated character. He made a grand entrance into the ring, engaging in staged wrestling moves before joining Dolly for the mock ceremony.
The combination of Hogan’s dramatic wrestling style and Dolly’s sparkling stage presence created a surreal but entertaining moment that captured the spirit of ’80s television. Cameras captured every detail—from Dolly’s rhinestone-studded outfit to Hogan’s larger-than-life persona—turning the segment into an instant pop culture highlight. Though the “wedding” was purely theatrical, it remains a widely remembered TV moment, celebrated for its humor, creativity, and the unlikely pairing of a country music superstar and a wrestling icon. Even decades later, fans recall the spectacle fondly as a shining example of 1980s television entertainment, blending music, comedy, and performance in a way only that era could deliver.