Dolly Parton’s fans are defending the country music icon after an essay on the Federalist conservative news site earlier this week focused on the 78-year-old “Jolene” singer’s faith over her support for the LGBTQ community.
The headline “There’s Nothing Loving About Dolly Parton’s False Gospel” surprised many people. Supporters flooded social media with critical messages about the essay, and the author has now expressed regret for using such a beloved figure to make her point.
Here’s what you need to know.
🗯️What did the Federalist say about Dolly Parton?
Federalist writer Ericka Andersen criticized Parton for her non-judgmental approach to life and her claim that she loves everyone — including members of the LGBTQ community, whom she has supported in interviews.
Andersen argued that if Parton is a Christian, as she claims, she should label homosexuality as a sin. “Parton’s version of love, which includes condoning immoral sexual behavior (“be who you are,” she says), is not in line with God’s vision of humanity,” Andersen wrote.
But Andersen told Yahoo Entertainment on Saturday that the widespread reaction made her realize she shouldn’t have used Parton to bolster her argument.
“I regret using Dolly as an example of the point I made in the article,” she said. “As I wrote in the piece, I love her and think she is doing incredible things for the world. We all make bad choices about how to frame things sometimes. This was one of those moments for me! Dolly is one of the few people who is loved by everyone and who loves everyone who loves her.
✝️What has Dolly Parton said about her faith?
Parton tends to speak generally about her faith and love for God. In her 2020 book Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, she said, “I’m not that religious, but I’m very, very spiritual. I grew up in a very religious environment. I grew up with a Biblical background, and I’m glad I did.”
In a 2023 interview with The guardParton said, “I’m not that good of a Christian if I think I’m good enough to judge people. That’s God’s job, not mine. So when it comes to politics, I hate politics.”
💬What Dolly Parton fans are saying now
Fans on X, formerly Twitter, were anything but happy to see the Federalist come for Parton. (Another writer for the Federalist stated in 2016 that the “Islands in the Stream” crooner would make an excellent president.)
‘They came for Dolly. We ride at sunrise,” one fan wrote alongside a screenshot of the article.
“Folks, a land war in Asia is the SECOND biggest blunder anyone can make,” another added. “The first? I’m here to see Dolly Parton.
“No. You are not coming after Dolly Parton. You are absolutely not,” said a third.
“I’m going after everyone on this app…except Dolly Parton,” said another. “Delete your entire account.”
🏳️🌈What Dolly Parton has said about the LGBTQ community
While Parton may hate politics, she spoke to the Hollywood reporter in 2023 about how the recent onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation is affecting people she loves.
“I have a piece of everyone in my own immediate family and in my circle of employees,” she explained. “I have transgender people. I have gays. I have lesbians. I have drunks. I have drug addicts – all within my own family. I know and love them all, and I don’t judge. And I just see how broken they are about certain things and I know how real they are.
She continued: “I know how important this is to them. That’s who they are. They can’t help it any more than I can help being Dolly Parton, you know, as people know me. If there is anything that needs to be judged, it is But we are all God’s children and how we are is who we are.”
This article contains affiliate links; if you click on such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
