Sydney Sweeney Takes on Dolly Parton Role in “Americana”
Sydney Sweeney brings a touch of Dolly Parton to her latest film, “Americana,” launching right after her recent American Eagle ad campaign featuring “Good Jeans.” In this western heist movie, premiering on August 15, Sweeney plays Penny Joe Poplin, a small-town waitress with a deep love for country legends, dreaming of a life much like theirs.
“Dolly is pretty much her ultimate role model,” Sweeney shared in a June interview. She elaborated that Penny Joe idolizes Dolly, wanting to embody her spirit, though lacking the means to do so.
Sweeney remarked, “Dolly is almost like a divine figure for Penny Joe, and I want to express her longing to be like her, but she’s limited.” Penny Joe, described as dreaming of a vibrant life filled with color against her gray reality, is trying to figure out who she truly wants to become.
In the film, Penny Joe, an aspiring country singer-songwriter, teams up with a veteran named Lefty (played by Paul Walter Hauser) in South Dakota to search for a rare artifact—a Lakota ghost shirt—which has landed on the black market. Their journey leads them through a landscape rife with danger as they encounter ruthless criminals and others, including indigenous leaders and women seeking a connection to their past.
“This artifact could be her ticket to Nashville,” Sweeney explained. “It’s a chance to chase her dreams, and she’s at the point where she can’t just wait for it to happen anymore.”
“Americana” marks the directorial debut of Tony Tost, who also penned the script, and features a cast including Halsey, Eric Dane, Zahn McLanon, and Simon Rex. Though it originally premiered at the South by Southwest Film & Television Festival in 2023, the global release has coincided with ongoing discussions surrounding Sweeney’s ad campaign for American Eagle.
Public relations expert Eric Schiffer believes that Sweeney’s character will resonate well with viewers, noting that the film’s release timing aligns serendipitously with her current spotlight. He commented, “She plays Penny Joe, a waitress who completely adores Dolly. There’s a sweetness to her that contrasts with the intensity of the buzz around her ads.”
However, last month’s ad campaign by the clothing retailer stirred mixed responses online. Some users labeled it as tone-deaf while others applauded Sweeney’s performance. One ad included her humorously correcting a phrase about “genes” to “jeans.” Critics felt the campaign brushed against themes of eugenics and troubling historical connotations surrounding the term “great genes.”
American Eagle responded to the criticism, emphasizing that the focus was on Sweeney and her jeans. Despite the backlash, some experts, like Steve Honig, believe that this controversy might not negatively impact Sweeney’s burgeoning career. He noted that while provocative ads can attract mixed reactions, they often lead to increased visibility and recognition.
Sweeney’s upcoming projects also underscore her growing presence in Hollywood. She’s set to reprise her role in “Euphoria,” which is expected to air its third season in 2026, and will portray real-life boxer Christy Martin in an upcoming biopic. Furthermore, she stars in Paul Feig’s “The Housemaid,” slated for release on December 25.
