Dolly Parton Maintained Political Neutrality Throughout Career

<p>Dolly Parton, the country music legend, spent decades focusing on themes of love, heartbreak, and work, while avoiding involvement in partisan politics. In a 2020 interview with USA Today, Parton stated, "I am not political, and I refuse to get caught up in political things." Parton, who passed away at the age of 80, upheld this stance during presidential elections and in response to questions about former President Donald Trump, as well as offers of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.</p><p>Parton expressed her desire to avoid offending fans from both sides of the political spectrum, saying, "I have as many Republican fans as I do Democrats. I don’t want to offend anybody, I have a right to myself." She emphasized the importance of being responsible for one's words and actions, stating, "Like God gave us free will, America gave us free speech, but you've got to be responsible for anything you say and do." During an interview with ABC's David Wright, she declined to comment on comparisons between Trump and a character in her film "9 to 5," saying, "I’m not addressing that. 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."</p><p>Parton was offered the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice by the Trump administration, which she declined, citing her husband's illness and the COVID-19 pandemic as reasons. The Biden administration also approached her about the award, to which she responded, "Now I feel like if I take it, it'll be doing politics, so I'm not so sure," in an interview with NBC's "Today."</p><p>Despite her political neutrality, Parton acknowledged her beliefs, stating, "I know whatever I say, people are going to listen, and they’re going to make more of it than maybe what I meant. So I have to be careful." She humorously remarked about her family's political affiliations, saying, "My daddy was a Republican, my mama was a Democrat, and I’m a hypocrite!"</p><p>Parton’s approach to collaboration was also evident when she recorded a duet with Kid Rock for her 2023 album, "Rockstar." She defended the collaboration, stating that she considered Kid Rock talented and believed in accepting people without necessarily agreeing with them. She remarked, "Hey, just because I love you don’t mean I don’t love Kid Rock. Just because I love Kid Rock don’t mean I don’t love you. I don’t condemn or criticize. I just accept and love."</p><p>During the 2016 presidential campaign, Parton clarified that she had not endorsed Hillary Clinton after her comments were misinterpreted. She later referred to the campaign as "the greatest show on television" and described both candidates as "nuts." Parton expressed her reluctance to enter politics, stating, "I don’t think anybody could actually do a great job at that," and preferred to influence through her music and interactions with others. She passed away following a brief battle with cancer, with her family requesting donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in lieu of flowers.</p>