Dolly Parton's most recent foray into television was a smash with both audiences and critics, winning its time slot when it aired on NBC Thursday night (Dec. 10).

Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors was inspired by her classic hit, "Coat of Many Colors," which was released in 1971. The autobiographical song draws from the country icon's own hardscrabble childhood, when Parton was mocked by the other children at school after her mother made her a winter coat out of rags that had been given to her family.

The film chronicles a particularly tough time in Parton's childhood after her mother — played by Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles — loses her baby, a tragedy which impacts the entire family and causes 8-year-old Parton to stop singing. The family gains renewed hope when Parton's mom uses the scraps she was sewing together for a blanket for the baby to fashion the now-famous coat.

The film drew a whopping 13 million viewers Thursday night, and also garnered critical raves.

"Like Parton's music, it manages to be somehow clear- and misty-eyed at once, a mix of the natural and the sentimental,” Robert Lloyd wrote in the Los Angeles Times, while the Washington Post weighed in with, "Leave it to Dolly Parton to bring out an innocuously sweet, faith-based, prime-time Christmas movie right in the middle of a religious and political culture war,” calling the film "pure-hearted and credible.”

Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors will stream for 25 days following its broadcast on NBC.com, NBC apps and Set-Top Box on Demand. View the film online here.

The movie is the first of three Parton will produce about her life for the network. “We want to create projects for NBC that are both fun and inspirational with a family audience in mind,” Parton explained in announcing the deal.

The next installment is based on her hit song, "Jolene."

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