(NewsNation) — A spokesperson for Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, tells NewsNation that no one from her team or Netflix invited country singer Dolly Parton to appear on her show “With Love, Meghan” despite reports saying the contrary.
NewsNation has reached out to Parton’s team for comment.
According to celebrity commentator Kinsey Schofield, Parton’s team was “livid” at the request for her to appear on the show.
“They don’t want to risk Dolly’s reputation, Q score and her popularity by associating with Meghan Markle,” Schofield alleged during a podcast appearance. “They knew that this ask was just to give Meghan Markle credibility in this lifestyle space, a space that Dolly does have a lot of credibility in.”
Meghan’s lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan” was released on Netflix in March and was immediately renewed for a second season despite being slammed by critics.
‘With Love, Meghan’ on Netflix Top 10 less than a week
As NewsNation’s Paula Froelich reported in March, “With Love, Meghan” peaked at No. 5 on Netflix’s Top 10 list, lasting six days. Netflix said the show was renewed for a second season, but one insider said the extra episodes had already been shot, paid for and scheduled to debut in the fall.
Meghan’s show has a 39% like rate on Rotten Tomatoes. An insider told Froelich, “It’s necessary for a second season because Netflix has sunk so much money into As Ever — and she can promote the products in the second season she couldn’t promote in this one due to all the trademark hassle.”
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, in “With Love, Meghan” on Netflix. (Netflix) 
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, speaks during the South by Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas, on March 8, 2024. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File) 
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry pose for pictures after visiting the observatory in One World Trade in New York, on Sept. 23, 2021.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) 
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were in New York City to accept the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award on Dec. 6, 2022. (Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press file) 
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, arrives at the Invictus Games venue in The Hague, Netherlands, on April 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File) 
Britain’s Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, visit Delia Zapata Art Center in Bogota, Colombia, on Aug. 15, 2024. (Photo by Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images) 
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, attend an exhibition sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered, a community-based charitable organization dedicated to aiding wounded, injured or sick servicemembers, as part of celebrations of Invictus Games in Abuja, Nigeria on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Emmanuel Osodi/Anadolu via Getty Images) 
Prince Harry and Meghan arrive at the Ripple of Hope Award Gala in Nev York on Dec. 06, 2022. (Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) 
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s wife, speaks during a forum on Afro women and power alongside Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez in Cali, Colombia, on Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
In the first six days, 526,000 households watched the eight-part series, according to data from Samba TV. The Daily Mail reported that Netflix bosses were “worried” about the poor reviews, especially since they are a business partner in her lifestyle brand.
“Netflix bosses are all worried now because they have invested a lot in the product line,” the insider said. “They don’t know when and how to roll it all out.”
Meghan’s podcast also slammed by critics
Meghan’s podcast, which made it to number two on Apple podcast charts but quickly fell to number 19, was also slammed by critics.
According to Livemint, “[Confessions of a Female Founder] received just one star in The Times. Writer James Marriott mentioned in his review the show called it ‘vapid lessons in self-love’ by Meghan.”
The Guardian’s Rachel Aroesti said the “sycophantic interview podcast is stomach-turning.” Chris Bennon from the Telegraph didn’t approve of the podcast and said it was an “inane stream of mindless aphorisms.”