I think Dolly Parton is one of those few “universally beloved” celebrities. She made very, very few enemies throughout her career, and in interviews, Dolly just seems like the epitome of grace and class. But we should also remember that she IS a country star and she lives in a part of the country that is deeply Republican. Recent, Blake Shelton seemed to pander and talk around the fact that he’s a Donald Trump supporter as a way of appeasing his “mainstream” fans. I think Dolly is doing the opposite – I think she’s voting for Hillary Clinton but she can’t say it because her country fans would feel alienated. That’s what I’m getting from this interview with ABC (she’s promoting her new album, Pure & Simple). Some highlights:
Why ‘9 to 5’ was an important movie: “It really touched on a really serious subject at the time. It was based on a company, a group called 9 to 5 and it was about women trying to get equal pay for equal work, so that really addressed that at the time. It still speaks to what’s going on today — we have come a long way as women. We’ve got Hillary Clinton almost in the White House, or could be. But the fact that she could be the first woman president, whether it’s her or not, somewhere down the road there’s going to be one. We’ve come far, but still have a long way to go. So I think that 9 to 5 is still just a fun thing for many reasons, and a good thing for many reasons.”
She hasn’t decided how she’ll vote: “At this time there’s so much craziness going on with the race I haven’t even decided yet how I’m going to vote. There’s just a lot of craziness going on. But whoever it is, we’ll all have to work together and be supportive of them. Whether it’s Hillary or whether it’s Donald Trump.”
Her LGBTQ fans: “I’m so outspoken about believing people should be who and how they are and be allowed to be happy and love who they please. With my gay and lesbian fans, I think they appreciate the fact that I’m just an accepting person. I try not to be judgemental.”
I think she’s decided who she will vote for and she just isn’t going to say. Which is totally her right – we’re not “owed” a celebrity’s political thoughts or political identification. She’s going to alienate people either way, so why not just play coy? And she managed to do it in a way that didn’t aggravate people either, unlike Blake Shelton, who made it sound like Donald Trump is a hero for showing white heterosexual men that they don’t have to be so afraid of saying bigoted sh-t.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I love Dolly.
But I feel like this is a time when it’s important to be vocal about NOT supporting racism, anger, hatred, white supremacy, incompetence, willful ignorance, and everything else that a vote for Trump supports. Ruffle a few f***ing feathers over it!
Yeah, part of me gets why she responded the way she did but the other part of me says there is too much at stake this election. Speak up!
I totally agree but maybe she just doesn’t have the energy to take a stand and have to deal with the fallout.
I love her, but it sounds to me like she’s not very well informed. I’d have rather heard her say she didn’t want to speak about politics than to say she hasn’t decided.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. Maybe she’s been a lifelong Republican and she doesn’t know what to say or do now.
I completely agree, Patricia. I believe, in this election, we must be particularly vocal. Saying you’re undecided implies that Trump is a viable candidate, which he is absolutely not.
EXACTLY.
She’s spoken pretty loudly by not saying she’s voting for The Donald. We can’t judge people about such things. Not everything has to be done in public. We all do what we can, when we can.
Ohhhh, I really hope she’s not a Trump supporter. Not that it’s really any of my business but it would break my heart, never mind that it strikes me as totally incongruous with who she is as a person.
I think she’s a Hillary supporter. She mentioned something recently I think that was vaguely anti-Trump and a lot of country fans were not happy, so she backtracked. I wish she was staunch about her views but the Dolly way is to smile, pat morons on the head, and keep on trucking forward into success.
When Phil Bredesen was governor of Tennessee (Democrat), he and Dolly did literacy commercials together and they looked as though they were great friends. Nashville and most of the movers and shakers in the country music industry here are Democrats. It’s the country fans that are more than likely Trump supporters.
If I had money to bet, I would bet Dolly’s voting for Hillary.
“her country fans would feel alienated”.
Can we get a “some” in there please? Not all country music fans are Republican.
It’s possible she’s just not happy about the election as a whole, too. I’m voting for Hillary, full stop, but I’m not exactly thrilled about it. (Yes, she is worlds better than Trump, I completely agree on that point.)
Has there ever been an election where people were thrilled about the candidates? This is actually one o the rare elections where one candidate is so so so much better than the other.
In 2008 people were pretty optimistic about Obama. That’s the one election (granted I’ve only been alive for the last 4 of them lol) I remember where people were pretty excited/energized about a candidate.
I agree, I felt more excited in 2008 than I have in a long time and definitely agree there was more of an energy and excitement over Barack Obama than I feel over Hillary. I was genuinely thrilled to vote for him after 8 years of W.
There is just no way someone can’t decide between Trump and Clinton, IMO. I agree that those who say they’re “not sure” who they’re voting for are just afraid to say who they are voting for or they are attempting to look like they are unbiased when stating an opinion.
Either way- i seriously doubt the critical thinking skills of someone who truly can’t decide between the two.
Parton knows who she’s voting for. She doesn’t want to alienate her fans.
I actually appreciate a celebrity not acting like the should tell me who they are voting for and how I should vote. Most act like we peons would be lost and confused without them.
^^^Agreed. They typically are so “evolved,” I appreciate someone down to earth like her. It’s honestly none of our business who any of them vote for.
Totally agree! It should be a private decision and one that isn’t put out there – ESPECIALLY if you’re a celebrity. People need to be researching the candidates and where they stand on issues that are important to them, the voter. Not voting based on who my favorite actor, singer, sportperson is voting for. The issues important to them can be totally different from someone else’s and they are no more informed than anyone else. Time for people to use their own brain.
Perhaps she has not decided whether she is going to vote absentee or whether she’ll vote in the morning, afternoon, or evening at the polls?
I’ve decided. I’ll be at the door of the polling place at 6:45, along with my 88 year old great aunt and her walker, with a cup of tea in one hand and a basket of cinnamon buns in the other – I always make cinnamon buns on Election Day and share with the poll workers. I’ll take a picture of my aunt next to the ballot hanging on the door and post it on Face book. I’ll vote for Hillary and then cover myself with “I VOTED stickers.”
I really am getting disappointed to voting absentee, but who knows when Betsy 3 will arrive? I don’t want to miss voting!
Good for you…I’ll be there early, too, but won’t have the cinnamon buns. Very thoughtful thing for you to do. You are my kind of person.
Voted at 10:00 a.m. yesterday on some local issues and they had run out of “I Voted” stickers…uh, what!!!
They ran out of “I Voted” stickers? That’s a crime! Your secretary of state is not doing his or her job! “I Voted” stickers should be available in abundance.
I know…I shook my head and muttered under my breath, “How can you run out of I VOTED stickers.” Inexcusable.
It wasn’t the most pleasant experience for me. I live in a “Red” state. When I walked in to vote, the elderly lady said, “ID, please.” That was good, and then she fumbled and fumbled around and couldn’t find my name. I said, “I’m a Democrat. You might want to look under that.” How absurd for someone at the polling place to just assume I’m a Republican.
My polling place doesn’t give out I VOTED stickers. *sadface*
I’m voting early so that I don’t have to put up with the Trump people (I live in a mostly supportive Trump county). I am SCARED to death that he is going to pull a win out so I will probably go on a news blackout until the end of the night.
I’ve done that, making sure I only watch cartoons until the next morning after the election …. And not checking e-mail! I don’t like watching high-wire acts either.
She never answers about voting. She was asked before what she thought about a female nominee when it looked like Hillary was definitely the Dem nominee. She said she thought it would be “wonderful.” She said, “Hillary might make as good a president as anybody ever has.”. She said she personally thought a woman would do a great job. She said that Hillary is qualified. “I’ll certainly be behind her.”
People took that as saying she is voting for her. She came back later and qualified that she never said that, was undecided, but would always support the president in office. She doesn’t like to get political.
What sane woman could vote for Trump? On the plus side, she is vocal for gay rights, as is Reba last year who came out with her strongest advocacy for gay marriage yet.
Dolly does a lot to support women in music, and she does most of it behind the scenes. One example is Mindy Smith, who got her break when Dolly asked her to sing Jolene. But you’re right, I don’t think Dolly’s ever publicly supported particular politicians.
Ok, she’s on the Today show this morning, and she’s flat out adorable! So humble and cute–picking on herself for “good makeup and good doctors.” Certain celebrities we shall not name, take note…
She can vote for whomever she wants and it’s nobody’s damn business. IMO – we’re being forced to choose between two pieces of shit. They’re both crooked – just beholden to different special interests. Pick your poison.
+1 It makes me ill to think about it.
Completely agree. On all accounts. My poison pill of choice is 3rd party.
Me too. First time EVER. My choice won’t win, but at least I can be a smug little jerk for the next four years that I didn’t vote for either of the main people.
I’m calling BS on that. I don’t for a minute believe she doesn’t know how she will vote. If she doesn’t want to talk about it, then she shouldn’t. It’s no one’s business but her own.
When I was a kid, my Mom refused to tell me who she voted for in a certain presidential election. She really felt that this was a very personal and private issue. (I did eventually wheedle it out of her.) Now she blabs freely about voting Democrat but I never forgot her early reaction. To some people this remains private information and that is their right.
I saw Dolly in concert a few weeks ago and she was so incredibly, subtly political. She was warm and kind in being so, talking about accepting everyone and how her God instructs to be kind and non-judgmental. She also made some comments about how in this time of incredible racism we needed to do better. And she sang If I Had A Hammer– which is quite a political statement of it’s own. It was wonderful.
Dolly tends to be clever in how she words things. Her voting preference is her business. She likely realizes that getting more specific could impact her real business. She’s a shrewd businessperson, by her own admission.
She may be 70 years old but she is as beautiful as she’s always been! I think she is truly a sweet, humble and funny lady…I love her!!!