The Iconic Burger King Order Dolly Parton Loved

The passing of Dolly Parton on August 25 at the age of 80 has left a huge hole in many of our hearts. She was a superstar in every sense, yet always remained down to earth, as her self-deprecating humor often demonstrated. Parton's long career gave her an appreciation for many different types of food, including Mexican and Indian, but the Queen of Country was just as happy to chow down on a full-size Burger King Whopper.

In 2024, she shared that she would occasionally eat at the fast food outlet. "I like those Whoppers at Burger King, that's always been my favorite," she said (via Today). The Whopper's simple blend of a quarter-pound, flame-grilled burger topped with tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, onions, mayo, and ketchup, served on a toasted, sesame seed bun, is a little like Parton herself. It's made from simple ingredients, but put them together, and they sparkle.

We wonder if the accompanying fries were as much of a delight for the singer, whose passion for potatoes ran long and deep. "Every single diet I ever fell off of was because of potatoes and gravy of some sort," she quipped in a 1992 interview — not to mention her appreciation of greasy food: "I love roast pork, especially the fatty part" (per The New York Times).

Meat was always a big part of Dolly Parton's life. Growing up in Tennessee, her large family ate whatever her father and uncles hunted and brought home, be it bear, squirrel, groundhog, or rabbit. Perhaps that's why In-N-Out Burger's Animal Style was also one of her favorites — a choice shared by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. An Animal Style burger packs a toasted bun with a mustard-fried beef patty, pickles, grilled onions, lettuce, and extra spread, while the Animal Style fries come with spread, cheese, and grilled onions. It was named after rowdy late-night customers, according to company owner Lynsi Snyder, and was the franchise's first-ever secret menu item.

Taco Bell's rice and beans and Mexican Pizza also got the Parton seal of approval, while her go-to taco was a soft shell. The singer said other kinds tended to fall apart, "so I always get a Taco Supreme, with the sour cream and all that, in the soft shell. I love that," she shared (per Business Insider). The singer, actress, and philanthropist inspired millions of people around the world, including British restaurant Big Buns Burgers. In 2024, it unveiled the Dolly Parton, a gut-busting combo of three Angus beef patties or one fried chicken fillet, topped with mac and cheese, tater tots, curd cheese, lettuce, and beef tomatoes. As much as we miss her, we think Dolly would have loved it.