Dolly Parton’s Political Statements Over the Years

Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors

Dolly Parton has long kept mum about her personal politics.

Many think they can assume what she believes, due to her long history of supporting gay rights, lifting up women, and her philanthropic efforts — like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which gives away free books and helps teach children to read, as well as funding COVID-19 vaccines.

However, the “Jolene” singer has refused to reveal how she votes, and even walked back statements supporting Hillary Clinton in 2016, due to people assuming she had given her an endorsement. The country legend prefers to remain mysterious for herself — and for her fans.

Here’s a look at some of Parton’s vaguely political statements over the years.

On the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky incident (1990s)

Amid the fallout from the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky scandal, Parton refused to condemn the disgraced president. In a 2019 interview with The GuardianParton was asked about this stance.

She doubled down, explaining, “Yeah! I know those men. In every man I see someone in my family.” However, when the writer asked if she saw her brothers in Donald Trump, she responded, “I ain’t talking about Trump!”

On gay rights (2016)

Larry King asked Dolly Parton about being supportive of gay rights during an interview posted to YouTube on Aug 29, 2016. The songstress was quick to note that she has been “made” the poster child for gay rights. However, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t still stand up for them.

“They’ve made me the poster child, I think, only because I’m so outspoken as far as being accepting of people in general,” Parton explained. “I do not believe that we should criticize and judge other people. I think we should be accepting and loving. We are all God’s children. We are who we are, and we should be allowed to be who we are.”

King pointed out that her open-minded stance likely made religious groups quite unhappy. She acknowledged how often that happened, but it doesn’t deter her.

“Well, if you’re the fine Christian that you think you are, why are you judging people? That’s God’s job. We’re not God,” she maintained. “We’re not judges. You know, we’re supposed to love one another. We’re supposed to not judge. And we’re not supposed to take vengeance on other people. That’s God’s job. So I got too much to do on my own to try to do God’s work too.”

On the possibility of a female president (2016)

During the 2016 presidential election, Parton was asked in a New York Times interview about a potential female presidency. She responded, “Hillary (Clinton) might make as good a president as anybody ever has. I personally think a woman would do a great job. I think Hillary’s very qualified. So if she gets it, I’ll certainly be behind her.”

However, she did follow that statement up with a signature Dolly joke, adding, “I think no matter if it’s Hillary or Donald Trump, we’re gonna be plagued with PMS either way — presidential mood swings!” After people started writing that she had endorsed Hillary, Parton took to Facebook to release an official statement that walked back her previous remarks.

“This morning while I was watching the news I saw many reports that I had endorsed Hillary Clinton. My comment about supporting a woman in the White House was taken out of context. I have not endorsed Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump. I try not to get political but if I am, I might as well just run myself ’cause I’ve got the hair for it, it’s huge, and they could always use more boobs in the race. But seriously, I have not decided who I’m voting for,” the statement read.

On Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda’s bold statement at the Emmy’s (2017)

Parton joined her 9 to 5 co-stars Tomlin and Fonda onstage during the 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards. Fonda and Tomlin took that moment to condemn then-President Trump in the name of their feminist film.

“Back in 1980, when we made that movie, we refused to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying hypocritical bigot …” Fonda began. “… And it’s true in 2017 we still refuse to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot,” Tomlin finished.

Parton, meanwhile, looked visibly uncomfortable and made big surprised eyes as they spoke — while she kept her mouth shut, before making a joke about her breasts to change the subject.

In 2019, Parton was asked about her clear discomfort, and she explained that she doesn’t “like to be known by the company I keep, so to speak.” She continued, “I want to be my own individual self. If I’ve got something to say, I’ll say it, but I don’t want to be dragged into it.”

When pressed, Parton added, “Well, it was not a surprise, knowing Lily and Jane. I just did not want everybody to think that whatever they think is what I think. I don’t really like getting up on TV and saying political things. I don’t even want to make a deal out of it, but I want people to know I’m my own individual self.”

“Even though [Fonda, Tomlin, and I] may agree on a whole lot of things – and they may have more agreement [between] themselves because they’ve been together for longer – I still have my own thoughts and my own way of doing things. It’s not a matter of being disrespectful, it’s just, OK, that’s what they said, I’m not getting involved in it,” she said.

On whether she considers herself a feminist (2019)

In an interview with The Guardian published on February 24, 2019, Parton was asked if she considers herself a feminist.

“I mean, I must be if being a feminist means I’m all for women, yes,” she said. “But I don’t feel I have to march, hold up a sign or label myself. I think the way I have conducted my life and my business and myself speaks for itself. I don’t think of it as being feminist. It’s not a label I have to put on myself. I’m just all for gals.”

On keeping the peace (2019)

During a 2019 episode of Dolly Parton’s America Podcastshe shared, “I don’t do politics. I have too many fans on both sides of the fence. Of course, I have my opinion, but I learned years ago to keep my mouth shut about things.”

Parton maintained this sentiment during a 2019 interview with The Guardianexplaining, “I’ve got as many Republican friends as I’ve got Democrat friends, and I just don’t like voicing my opinion on things.”

She also referred to the controversy surrounding the Chicks (then known as The Dixie Chicks) speaking up against the Iraq invasion in 2003. “I’ve seen things before, like the Dixie Chicks. You can ruin a career for speaking out.” Parton continued, “I respect my audience too much for that, I respect myself too much for that. Of course I have my own opinions, but that don’t mean I got to throw them out there, because you’re going to piss off half the people.”

On keeping mum for her own sanity (2019)

Parton also explained that her decision not to talk politics also has to do with her own sanity. “It’s not like there’s some big mystery, I just know you can’t just … I’m just private, put it that way,” she said.

“Even though I’m public, there’s still a very private side. But that’s what keeps me sane, and I guess it’s what keeps people intrigued – they think they’re going to find out something more. But you’re only going to know as much as I’m going to tell you,” Parton added.

On not accepting the President Medal of Freedom Award

In 2021, the country singer revealed to NBC’s Today that she had turned down two offers of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award — the highest civilian honor in the US — from then-President Trump. However, she said that rather than having to do with politics, it was actually because of illness.

“I got offered the Freedom Award from the Trump administration. I couldn’t accept it because my husband was ill. Then they asked me again about it, and I wouldn’t travel because of Covid.”

She did note, however, that if she accepted the award from President Biden — who she said had already made the offer — then she would have to think it over due to the possible political implications.

“Now I feel like if I take it, it’ll be doing politics, so I’m not so sure,” Parton said. “But it’s a nice compliment for people to think I might deserve it.”