When Anna Wintour was editor-in-chief of American Vogue, she was famous for gatekeeping Vogue covers when it came to particular women and particular kinds of women. Wintour despised putting average-sized or plus-sized women on the cover. Wintour hated giving the cover to most women of color. Wintour refused to give the cover to anyone who wanted it too much (Victoria Beckham). And Wintour generally refused to give Vogue covers to women who wouldn’t submit themselves to her sartorial vision, women who had their own particular look or style. Well, big surprise, Wintour rejected Dolly Parton for the cover multiple times.
Anna Wintour “rejected” pitches to have Dolly Parton on the cover of American Vogue at least four times as she thought the late singer was “too tacky,” it has been claimed.
An insider alleged that while the entire country saw the Jolene hitmaker as “an icon,” the media executive, who served as editor-in-chief of Vogue from 1988 to 2025, “completely missed it.” According to the source, Anna “looked at Dolly and saw rhinestones.”Meanwhile, another insider described the Dolly “snub” as “ridiculous” as Vogue eventually went on to embrace reality stars and influencers. The claims have emerged two weeks after Dolly passed away at the age of 80.
Speaking to Rob Shuter’s Substack Naughty But Nice, a source said, “Anna thought Dolly was too country, too camp and too tacky for Vogue. She looked at Dolly and saw rhinestones. The rest of America saw an icon. Anna completely missed it.”
Shuter also reported that the former Vogue editor also found Jessica Simpson too cheap and Alice Keys too urban. He wrote in his Substack, “Even Jennifer Lopez initially struggled for Anna’s approval. Yet Kim Kardashian eventually made the cover. So did Lauren Sánchez Bezos.”
While she missed out on a cover, the fashion world heavily celebrated Dolly’s signature “country-glamour” aesthetic across various Vogue platforms. In January 1994, Vogue published a major profile on her titled “Good Golly Miss Dolly,” which included a famous photoshoot by legendary photographer Herb Ritts. She was also photographed for the magazine by Irving Penn in October 1999.
Yeah, I believe this – that Wintour had significant blind spots about certain women, that Wintour never prioritized Dolly Parton for a cover, that Wintour never really saw the need to highlight certain women of color. It’s pretty awful when you really think about it, when you really think of the priorities of the so-called fashion bible. Dolly Parton was a million times more beautiful and more interesting than like 90% of the women who actually got Vogue covers.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Backgrid.
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- Anna Wintour attends the 79th Annual Tony Awards, held at Radio City Music Hall in New Yorkers City, Sunday, June 7, 2026.,Image: 1108827622, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Jennifer Graylock-Graylock.com, Model Release: no , Credit line: JENNIFER GRAYLOCK/Avalon
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CA, USA – DECEMBER 06: Singer Dolly Parton arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘Dumplin” held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX 6 on December 6, 2018 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 534823712, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS excluding China – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- LOS ANGELES, CA, USA – FEBRUARY 08: Singer Dolly Parton arrives at the 2019 MusiCares Person Of The Year Honoring Dolly Parton held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency),Image: 535252324, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / Xavier Collin / Avalon
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- Dame Anna Wintour and Anne Hathaway present the Oscar for Costume Design during the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026.,Image: 1083372235, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: SI/Avalon
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- MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA – APRIL 20: Anna Wintour wearing custom Prada Spring 2016 arrives at the New York Premiere Of 20th Century Studios’ ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ held at the David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on April 20, 2026 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.,Image: 1093503358, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Pictured: Anna Wintour , Credit line: Image Press Agency/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- Beverly Hills, CA – Dolly Parton, who has written new songs for the movie “Dumplin” attends a photocall at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Pictured: Dolly Parton BACKGRID USA 22 OCTOBER 2018 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Hollywood, CA – Singer Dolly Parton arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘Dumplin” held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX 6. Pictured: Dolly Parton BACKGRID USA 6 DECEMBER 2018 BYLINE MUST READ: Image Press / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY Celebrities at the 2026 Met Gala, celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Pictured: Anna Wintour BACKGRID USA 4 MAY 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: BFA.com / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Celebrities attend the 2024 Met Gala Celebrating ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City Featuring: Anna Wintour Where: New York, United States When: 06 May 2024 Credit: Michael Stewart/INSTARimages.com
There is an article on Vogue.com posted on Aug. 25, about her fashion rules. It also mentions her book Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones. Of course Wintour didn’t like her, she didn’t follow anyone’s direction but her own. The Herb Ritts photos of her were gorgeous, btw.
https://www.vogue.com/article/dolly-parton-behind-the-seams-my-life-in-rhinestones-book
You know who understood Dolly Parton?
Gloria Steinem, how weird.
Imagine finding Dolly “tacky”, then having Lauren Sanchez host the Met Gala. I guess Dolly wasn’t rich enough since she deliberately chose never to become a billionaire.
Right? And also, Kim Kardashian isn’t too tacky to be on the cover? Go home, Anna.
Yup, the more I learn about Anna’s choices and tastes, the more I think she doesn’t actually have much style or taste herself.
Perhaps the Emperor of Vogue wasn’t wearing clothes after all?
Wintour completely blanked Kim Kardashian until she married Kanye and ge started influencing her styling. People forget that part. That was when he was at the height of his talent and popularity, before he spiraled into the mess he is now.
Not to mention that she managed to put Kim Kardashian on a cover, and the woman oozes tacky & manufactured. Imagine finding that a poor-little rich girl who got a start in making a cheap porn, making women feel poorly about themselves and most definitely looking out only for herself less tacky and more worthy than a world class legend who came from nothing, loved and accepted everyone, and donated her time and money over and over again.
Oooh, I think the powers that be are leaking this. They see a window to finally dethrone Anna Wintour. The public adores Dolly….Anna is a great character in Devils Wears Prada but beyond that in real life her behavior seems really difficult.
I don’t think Dolly appeared on the cover of any of the NYC fashion magazines, Vogue Harper’s, or Elle. I think it was a broader fashion industry bias that Dolly=tacky.
What Anna never got was that Dolly was in on the ‘tacky’ joke. Such a missed opportunity.
I agree. If, and that’s a huge if, Vogue is to survive and be relevant, it has to appeal to a much younger and much more inclusive demographic. Wintour’s recent blunders, along with her totally blind take on Dolly Parton give Condé Nast some serious ammo if the end game is to oust Wintour completely.
It’s because Anna W isn’t creative. She doesn’t know how to style someone with curves and not a waspy look
True dat. She had very creative people with vision like Andre Talley and Grace Coddington. Used them until she threw them under the bus for being old.
This, so much this. Wintour’s had an endless pool of talent knocking on her door, competing against one another, in hopes of becoming part of Vogue. All she’s had to do was showcase the winner.
💯
Imagine putting Kim Kardashian on the cover and never Dolly Parton?
Yuck.
Actually Anna boycotted Kim K until she married Kayne. That’s why they wanted him. He bought them fashion cred at the time.
I think it’s important to remember that Anna Wintour is British and never lost that sensibility. I can believe she looked down at Dolly and other famous American women. I think allowing Beyoncé on the cover was an act of desperation not inclusiveness.
Meh. I don’t think that’s a good excuse. Anna was significantly responsible for turning Vogue covers with interesting artistic direction and real models to bland trophy covers for actresses. British Vogue has remained so much more creative with POC in key positions.
I wasn’t making excuses for her behaviour just explaining why she didn’t put Dolly on the cover. Until Edward Enniful became editor of British Vogue, Naomi Campbell was the only black woman put on the cover in its entire history and no people of colour worked there before Enniful. British Vogue was no better than US Vogue for a very long time.
Yes and he’s the one that gave Meghan the co editor special. He’s not there anymore but the editorial board still has prominent POC while the US edition went to a white nepo baby.
I’m just saying it’s not because she’s British. It’s because she’s a narrow minded snob which can be any nationality
Also that’s not true. Naomi has been on the cover of British Vogue 9 times the first in 1987 and was not the first black woman.
(Yea had to look that up)
I don’t think anyone is denying that class factor plays into it but I honestly don’t see how you can divorce Ana’s world view from her British nationality when the two are clearly intertwined. Even her unending support of the BRF–no American magazine editor has ever maintained such a longstanding, close relationship with the Royals.
Like, yes Anna is subdued, private, refined, elegant, reserved. And most of those qualities I have found in the British people I’ve encountered (along with a dry wit, which I love). And yes, Dolly was loud, confident, bold, and energetic which are often seen as American traits.
There’s a cultural divide there that really cannot be ignored.
But you’re right Naomi was technically only the 3rd and Enniful did a lot for the publication
No Dolly, no Gloria Steinem, no civil rights icons. But hey, Kimye.
Nuclear Wintour herself is no fashion icon to anyone I know. Her bad style, bad shoes, ugly sunglasses, ugly wig. She of all people shouldn’t be in a position to judge who and what is fashionable. She had so many chances to promote female designers but instead she preferred OWM.
She’s the quintessential Brit — conservative, classist, snobby, haughty, condescending. Her bonmots often come across as abusive and insulting.
I have no idea why Condé Nast has kept her on for so long, especially after it came out how she treated ALT.
“she preferred OWM” what does OWM stand for?
“she treated ALT” Who is ALT?
It’s so frustrating when people use acronyms as if everyone knows what the letters stand for. This isn’t texting a friend. This is an international conversation. Please explain your shortcuts.
@Gail – guessing
OWM = other white men
ALT = Andre Leon Talley, if you watch the vogue documentary (came out a few years ago now… can’t remember the name sorry) he’s a huge part of Anna’s original success. Similarly Grace Coddington, mentioned above. It’s a great watch.
ALT is, like HelgZ already mentioned, André Leon Talley, who was known as ALT at Vogue and elsewhere in fashion reporting.
OWM = Old White Men, an abbreviation that’s been in use for decades, not only in the US.
I knew ALT was Andre but I have never seen OWM abbreviated in my life.
Why am I surprised that an elderly British woman saw no value or beauty in women of color? The entire anti-Meghan saga sheds light on the racist attitudes of certain British people.
I personally will never spend my vacation dollars in a place where they’d rather I not even exist.
Might want to stay out of the US then.
Bam! Normandes
Cute reply. 😊
And she called Alicia Keyes “too urban.” Holy racism Batman.
I’m thinking that a cover featuring Dolly Parton would have given Vogue their best-selling issue ever.
I don’t think being British has anything to do with it. She transformed US vogue into a bland publication while British vogue stayed more creative and inclusive. Anna is just a snob and holds onto archaic beauty standards.
Grace Coddington was also from the UK but had 1000x the vision.
“Too urban…” umm. Speaks for itself.
Well, that was a missed opportunity. Who doesn’t love Dolly? She would have leaped off the page!
I find Anna Wintour exhausting. I didn’t love The Devil Wears Prada as much as many people did in part because it seemed to admire Meryl Streep’s character too much. She was abusive, full stop. It’s fine to be demanding and eccentric and difficult. It’s not fine to force your assistant to do unethical things for your children, even if that thing is just getting a copy of the new Harry Potter in advance. That part made my blood boil for some reason, lol.
I can see this being so, the stratification of music genres was more pronounced back in the day. Country performers were more likely to be on the covers of homemaking and religious magazines. And the ideas of who was ‘cool’ in fashion circles changed by slow degrees over time. Stevie Nicks was never even asked by any women’s magazine for a feature until Harper’s Bazaar in ‘97.
Wintour was very image conscious, in the September Issue film she wanted to photoshop a photographer to remove his belly protruding over the waist of his trousers and Grace Coddington blocked that directive because reality made for a better image than sterile ‘perfection’.
People! Anna Wintour is a British SNOB! Dolly Parton–in Anna’s mind–is the equivalent of a self-made millionaire from Newcastle or Manchester with a string of successful couture bridal shops. The British generally are snobs about anyone who isn’t from the aristocracy—which explains (in my opinion) why it’s taken decades for them to warm up to Princess Catherine, and while they have such issues with Princess Meghan.
I think being British has at least a little do to with it. In many ways, Dolly really did embody a certain kind of Americana particular to southern women: working class but also big, bold, flashy, hyper-feminine. You can easily see how a British aristocrat with expensive, refined and very curated tastes would view Dolly’s aesthetic as somehow vulgar. The piece that Wintour missed was that Dolly’s good heart and kind nature eclipsed her showgirl aesthetic. She was endearing and captivating in a way that Kim Kardashian could never be because Kim simply doesn’t have the depth. And I only bring up Kim because as others pointed out, Wintour gave her a cover. I agree with the poster above that her choice to give Kim a Vogue cover was more a last-ditch Hail Mary by Wintour to try to appeal to a different demographic. I don’t believe that Ana was enthusiastic, but rather did it begrudgingly,
Dolly was everything Anna Wintour is not: warm, generous, genuine.
Dolly Parton did not need a vogue cover to be an icon
Every. Single. Word. ☝🏾
Let’s call a spade a spade. Dolly Parton came from NOTHING and is the definition of a self-made woman. She became a millionaire (billionaire maybe??) with her own hard work and dedication.
Anna is a nepo baby herself and had family connections to get into fashion and journalism (her father was the editor of the Evening Standard, he has his own Wikipedia). I know she worked hard to get where she did but she didn’t go into journalism completely blind and not knowing anything about it. Her father’s influence and the fact he was well-known in the UK definitely helped her.
Anna Wintour is your typical British classist and definitely saw Dolly Parton as white trash (tacky is code for white trash). She will never understand that bloodline and family background isn’t everything.
I’m 64 and.can remember the belittling that Dolly got from everybody in mainstream media: Barbara Wawa, Johnny Carson, everyone. Some of it was more lighthearted, but there was always sexist, demeaning talk about her breasts and clothes. Anna Wintour would never like someone like Dolly who could be sweetly polite while still delivering the message that she didn’t an F about your opinion. Anna wants people to grovel for her approval. That’s why she tolerates Kim. Kim would sell one of her kids to be on the cover.
This puts me in a bad mood. The wrong people are dying.
Dolly is too tacky, but Kim is not? And Alicia keys is too urban? Does that mean too black? Alicia Keys is absolutely gorgeous.
Anna Wintour and currently Martha Stewart have passed into their Norma Desmond stage of life.
Too “urban”? Dog whistle racism, much?
Anna W. is the personification of a bored housewife who runs a self-serving charity to gain some kind of power, while her husband engages in extramarital activities. Instead of running a charity, Anna got a magazine. This explains why Vogue US has always been curated for bored, WASP-y housewives.
The Met Gala Galliano debacle is really getting people to spill. Wintour has her favorites and her gatekeeping really became a bit sloppy. She’s a snob and has referred to fat people as little houses. Totally see her dismissing Parton, especially if she was over 40. Anyway, she pushed out talented people of color as well. Speaking of which, Edward Enninful’s magazine has a multi cover September issue that has whiffs of Forces for Change. Some undercooked homage to the 90s.
I never understood why Anna Wintour was one to be kissed up to.