The news about the death of Dolly Parton at the age of 80 has hit fans across the world, a recognised queer icon due to her advocacy and lyrics that resonate with the community shall be missed.
“I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Parton’s nephew, Brain Seaver announced on Instagram early today.
“It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.”
Timeless classics like Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You being only the tip of the iceberg in terms of her success, Parton will be remembered for the strong storytelling motifs in her music, her acting career and her other accomplishments for different communities alike.
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on the 19th of January 1946 in Tennessee where from a young age she wanted to be a performer. She went on to win 11 Grammy Awards, appearing in 12 released feature films, sold more than 100 million records and wrote more than 3000 songs. She had a strong passion to improve child literacy, shown by distributing free books to children in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia. In 2020, Parton donated one million dollars to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, a trial site for the Moderna vaccine as well as setting up a fund in 2016 to give families who lost their homes to Tennessee wildfires and supporting HIV/Aids groups when the topic was still taboo in country music.
“Being brought up poor means I don’t take things for granted, and no matter how much money I make, I’ll always count my blessings quicker and more often than I count my money.”
In a 2014 interview with Billboard, Parton commented on certain Christian groups for not accepting the community, stating “if people want to pass judgment, they’re already sinning. The sin of judging is just as bad as any other sin they might say somebody else is committing. I try to love everybody.” After being asked further about her LGBTQ+ fans, she said,
“They know that I completely love and accept them, as I do all people. I’ve struggled enough in my life to be appreciated and understood.”
Parton also took part in a Dolly Parton look alike drag contest in a bar located on Santa Monica Boulevard close to her home in West Hollywood. She didn’t identify herself and was given a number to walk across the stage. The competition winner was based on crowd reaction to the performers, Parton said
“I got the least applause but I was just dying laughing inside.”
in a 2012 interview with ABC,
“I say it’s a good thing I was a girl or I’d be a drag queen.”
Parton’s messages of being who you are and loving yourself, as seen in her song Coat of Many Colours where the lyrics tell a story of being teased for being different, is something members of the queer community can apply to their own experiences and really resonate with.
Another of Parton’s songs Family on her album Eagle When She Flies released in 1991, contains the lyrics
“Some are preachers / some are gay / some are addicts, drunks and strays. But not a one is turned away when it’s family.” which tells the listener that families should accept any and every of their members. In an interview with the BBC, she says “I think people see me as an aunt, an older sister or a cousin. I’ve been around so long I’m part of their family.”, reaffirming her love and acceptance for everyone.
Jolene, one of Parton’s most famous songs with over 953 million streams on Spotify alone, is also relevant in the queer community. While the song’s lyrics say “Please don’t take him just because you can”, listeners have interpreted the lyrics not as a plea for the attention from a man but as a fixation on the beauty of another woman. Parton herself has leaned into this interpretation of the song, dedicating modified versions to her gay and drag fans during performances (notably on Late Night With Seth Meyers).
The relatableness of her story and powerful music. From her endless acceptance and love to her charity work, the whole queer community feels a loss for our Queen of Country
