Dolly Parton's Best Friend Judy Ogle Has Always Been A Stunning Natural Redhead: Photos

On August 25, 2026, the world received the tragic news that country legend Dolly Parton had passed away at 80 years old. The "9 to 5" superstar's passing may have come suddenly, as her representatives told People that she'd lost a brief battle with cancer, but she did have time for a public ode to her best friend. On Instagram, Parton honored National Best Friends Day with a throwback picture of herself and Judy Ogle. A heartfelt caption made it clear that the pair were much more than colleagues, and Ogle's ginger bouffant proved she has always been a stunning natural redhead.

Since Ogle and Parton's friendship spanned more than six decades, their adventures have been well-documented, and Ogle's hair has remained a vibrant shade of red throughout. The pair grew up together, and their bond extended beyond being best friends. In a 2019 interview with The Sun, Parton described Ogle as a sister. "Judy and I have been best friends for 64 years, since we were little kids. Our ­parents knew each other, we grew up together, we were like ­sisters, and became best friends," she explained. "She was very quiet, I was very outgoing. So we made perfect friends. We went all through school together," she added.

The pair were so close that the country legend even had to shut down rumors that Ogle was a secret girlfriend. But with such gorgeous red hair, there's no wonder the world thought that Parton had actually fallen for Ogle!

In the 1970s, Judy Ogle wore a purple minidress that showcased her flaming locks at Freida Parton's wedding. Posing alongside Dolly Parton and her sister, Ogle's vibrant ginger quiff was hard to ignore. Over time, many natural redheads have learned that purple is a great color for enhancing red hair, and Ogle was clearly no different. By proving just how great purple can look with red hair, there's no denying Ogle is one of the redheads who will make you want to try the flaming-hot look.

While Judy Ogle experimented with different hairstyles for special occasions, that clearly wasn't the case for her at-work look. After finishing her service in the U.S. Army, Ogle even returned to Nashville and became Dolly Parton's assistant. Pictured above, the pair were captured messing around backstage. While Ogle's monochrome ensemble enhanced the orange glow of her hair, she seemed pretty relaxed about dirtying her fabulous red locks. The hilarious scene showcased their backstage behavior, proving Dolly Parton and Judy Ogle were the true definition of friendship goals.

While Dolly Parton maintained her signature blond bouffant for most of her career, Judy Ogle fancied herself a change. Despite donning long red locks for years, Ogle eventually cut her hair to her shoulders. Rather than adding sophistication, the flicked-out ends of her hair added a fun and playful touch to her appearance. It seems the new haircut gave Ogle a way to change her personal image while maintaining her red locks. Ogle's ensemble also proved that avoiding yellow is another fashion myth redheads should ignore.

In the years following her big chop, Judy Ogle continued to rock a bob. However, she eventually grew out her flaming hair into longer bob, also known as a lob. The slightly longer hairstyle gave Ogle a more sophisticated allure with its feathered fringe and flicked out ends. She had also started to add some volume to her ginger locks by teasing her roots, but her hair was not quite as voluminous as best friend Dolly Parton's!

Judy Ogle and Dolly Parton may have had very different signature styles, but the best friends certainly embraced the larger-than-life hair trends that dominated the '80s. While Parton got her volume from bouncy blond ringlets, Ogle's ginger hair reached new heights. Ogle's teased roots in the photo above were very on-trend at the time, and the style really put her tresses front and center. Her sky-high hairstyle emphasized the warm glow of her red hair, and the muted color palette of her outfit also helped make her vibrant natural hair the focal point of her look.

In 1992, Judy Ogle posed for a photograph with Dolly Parton on the set of "Straight Talk." Ogle's flaming locks were glossy and vibrant. She continued to tease her roots, but with less volume. Ogle's outfits have long challenged the many myths about the colors redheads should and shouldn't wear, and her red ensemble was yet another one. Ogle clearly took no notice of the ongoing debate that argues whether redheads can wear red, and she continued to style her natural hair in any way she liked.

Judy Ogle has always embraced her stunning ginger hair and she has maintained her orange glow throughout her life. In another backstage photograph with Dolly Parton, Ogle wore an all-black ensemble that made her red hair stand out. Despite posing next to Parton, who was wearing a vibrant magenta zip-up, Ogle's red locks refused to be overshadowed. Ogle opted for a less dramatic appearance and wore her hair in a casual-cool layered bob. Rather than teasing her hair, she added volume by combing her roots back instead.

Although their relationship was purely platonic, it seems Judy Ogle and Dolly Parton really did spend much of their lives side by side. In yet another backstage photograph, Ogle's ginger locks prove she has always been a stunning natural redhead. Her warm bouffant also plays into the myth that claims redheads don't go gray. Unlike Parton, who had clearly used her outfit to make a statement, Ogle wore a black shirt and minimal makeup. Her muted color palette hinted that she had continued to let her vibrant hair make its own mark.