The death of country music legend, actor, and philanthropist Dolly Parton has prompted a rare moment of bipartisanship, with tributes pouring in from both sides of the political aisle. Parton, who died at the age of 80 on Tuesday, was widely loved and celebrated around the world and leaves behind a life that touched the lives of millions of Americans. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place,” read a statement shared on Parton’s social media page.
President Donald Trump ordered U.S. flags at the White House and other federal facilities to be flown at half-staff through Sept. 1. Trump called Parton an "amazing" person who and "to lose her is like to lose her a member of the family." "She wasn't a very political person," Trump said during a live radio interview Wednesday morning with conservative host Glenn Beck. Despite her grand public presence and persona, Parton often chose to stay out of political discourse.
Plus, I'm an entertainer, I don’t usually voice my opinion in a situation like that,” Parton added. Parton reiterated her apolitical stance during an interview with ABC's David Wright in 2018, where she again repeated, “I'm not being political.” “I don't do politics. I'm not getting into any of that because I have a lot of fans out there, and I don't want to offend anybody,” she said.
When pressed to answer questions about Trump, who at the time was just over a year into his first term as President, Parton said: “I have my opinion about everybody and everything, but 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,” she said. That broad appeal was reflected in tributes from across the political spectrum.
Major Democratic figures have cast Parton as a progressive figure who advocated for minority rights through her music, philanthropy, and public comments. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and is a leading voice of the progressive movement, said Parton “was one of the great entertainers of our era” whose “music and humanity touched millions.” “She was not only a talented musician & songwriter, but a lifelong philanthropist and advocate for literacy, education, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare and disaster relief,” he said. Despite Parton’s desire to remain politically neutral, her reputation as an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights stems from both her public comments and her work.
When asked in an interview aired in 2009 with Joy Behar whether she supported gay marriage, Parton said: “I always say, sure, why can't they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do.” At the time, the statement was politically significant, with same-sex marriage not becoming legal nationwide in the U.S. until 2015 and the issue still a source of intense political division. Again in 2016, Parton underscored her support for the community, saying: “I do not believe that we should criticize and judge other people.” “I think we should be accepting and loving.
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