Dolly Parton, the beloved country music icon, dedicated decades of her career to themes of love, heartache, faith, and the daily grind of "9 to 5." Throughout this illustrious journey, she consistently declined to immerse herself in the realm of partisan politics, a stance she maintained with unwavering resolve.
In a 2020 interview, Parton clearly articulated her position, stating, "I am not political, and I refuse to get caught up in political things."
A Deliberate Stance on Political Neutrality
Parton, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80, upheld this principle across multiple presidential elections, in response to direct inquiries about former President Donald Trump, regarding offers of the nation's highest civilian honor, and amidst various controversies involving her peers in the entertainment industry.
"I don't like to get involved in politics, because first of all, I have as many Republican fans as I do Democrats," Parton explained. She emphasized her desire "not to offend anybody" and asserted her personal right to choose her path. "Like God gave us free will, America gave us free speech, but you've got to be responsible for anything you say and do," she added.
Two years prior, in 2018, Parton faced persistent questioning about then-President Trump during a conversation with ABC's David Wright, as reported by the Knoxville News Sentinel.
"I have a lot of fans out there, and I don’t want to offend anybody," Parton responded.
When Wright attempted to draw a comparison between Trump and the exploitative boss character from Parton's 1980 film "9 to 5," she firmly declined to engage. "I’m not addressing that," Parton stated. She further elaborated on her long-held professional philosophy: "I learned a long time ago, keep your damn mouth shut if you want to stay in show business. … I’m not in politics, I’m an entertainer."
When Wright highlighted her status as a role model, Parton affirmed, "Yes I am. That’s why I don’t talk about people."
Navigating Political Pressure and High Honors
Parton's commitment to avoiding partisan politics even extended to some of America's most prestigious accolades. In 2021, she revealed that the Trump administration had twice extended an offer for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She recounted declining the first offer due to her husband Carl Dean's illness and the second because she was unwilling to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the BBC.
By that time, the Biden administration had also approached her about the award. Parton expressed her reservations to NBC's "Today" program, saying, "Now I feel like if I take it, it'll be doing politics, so I'm not so sure."
However, her aversion to political factions did not mean she remained silent on all matters she deemed important.
"I know whatever I say, people are going to listen, and they’re going to make more of it than maybe what I meant. So I have to be careful," Parton told People magazine in 2021. She clarified, "Of course I have my opinion, but I’m not an opinionated person as a rule. You’re allowed your own beliefs and your own faith, but you don’t have to use it like a weapon when it could be a tool."
Beliefs Beyond Partisan Divides
Parton often approached her political neutrality with a touch of humor. "My daddy was a Republican, my mama was a Democrat, and I’m a hypocrite!" she famously quipped, playfully pronouncing "hypocrite" with her distinctive Tennessee "hypo-crat" drawl.
Her philosophy faced another test when she collaborated with conservative musician Kid Rock for her 2023 album, "Rockstar."
Parton addressed questions about the duet, telling The Hollywood Reporter that the song was recorded before a specific controversy involving Kid Rock emerged. She added, however, that she likely would have worked with him regardless, as reported by Rolling Stone.
"Hey, just because I love you don’t mean I don’t love Kid Rock. Just because I love Kid Rock don’t mean I don’t love you," Parton explained. "I don’t condemn or criticize. I just accept and love."
Parton further indicated that she "probably" would still have recorded the duet, emphasizing that she recognized Kid Rock's talent and believed that accepting an individual did not necessitate agreement with all their actions. "I think that’s terrible," Parton stated, according to Rolling Stone, referring to the idea of shunning people over mistakes. "We all make mistakes. We don’t all get caught at it."
She connected this belief to her Christian faith, advocating for forgiveness and opportunities for redemption. "I ask God every day to let Him shine through me. He’s given me that gift to be able to talk to them, and I’m very careful with it," she told People in 2021. "And people don’t really come to see me be me — they come to see me be them, the parts of me they can relate to."
Presidential Campaigns and Personal Views
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Parton clarified that she had not endorsed Hillary Clinton, after some comments she made about the Democratic nominee were misconstrued as an official endorsement, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
When later asked about the electoral contest between Clinton and Trump, Parton humorously referred to the campaign as "the greatest show on television," and characterized both candidates as "nuts."
Even the notion of running for president herself was not something the iconic entertainer ever seriously considered.
"No. I don’t think anybody could actually do a great job at that," Parton informed Metro in 2023, as quoted by People. She added, "I think we’ve had enough ‘boobs’ in the White House."
Parton stated her preference for making a positive impact through her music and the way she interacted with others. "I’m not smart enough to be in politics, or maybe I’m too smart," she reflected. "Either way, I’m not qualified for that type of a job. But I’m pretty qualified to do what I do, which is to point people in the right direction, to write about it in songs or speak about things."
Parton's representatives announced that she passed away after a "brief battle with cancer." In accordance with her wishes, a small, private service will be held for her immediate family. The family has requested that donations be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in lieu of flowers.