Dolly Parton’s fans rush to her aid after a conservative magazine attacks her support for LGBTQ rights

Dolly Parton fans are defending the country music icon after an essay on conservative news site Federalist earlier this week attacked the 78-year-old “Jolene” singer’s faith because of her support of the LGBTQ community.

The headline, “There’s Nothing Loving About Dolly Parton’s False Gospel,” surprised many people. Supporters flooded social media with messages critical of the essay, and the author has now expressed regret for using such a popular figure to support her point.

Here’s what you should know:

🗯️What did the Federalist say about Dolly Parton?

Federalist author Ericka Andersen criticized Parton for her nonjudgmental approach to life and her claim that she loves all people – including members of the LGBTQ community, whom she supported in interviews.

Andersen argued that if Parton is a Christian, as she claims to be, she must denounce homosexuality as a sin. “Parton’s idea of ​​love, which includes condoning immoral sexual behavior (‘be who you are,’ she has said), is not consistent with God’s vision for humanity,” Andersen wrote.

But Andersen told Yahoo Entertainment on Saturday that the widespread backlash made her realize she shouldn’t have used Parton to make her point.

“I regret using Dolly as an example of the point I made in the article,” she said. “As I wrote in the article, I love her and think she does incredible things for the world. We all make bad choices sometimes when it comes to phrasing things. This was one of those moments for me! Dolly is one of the few people who is loved by everyone and who loves everyone. The world is lucky to have her.”

✝️What did Dolly Parton say about her faith?

Parton tends to speak generally about her faith and love for God. In her 2020 book Dolly Parton, Songteller: My life in song lyricsshe said: “I’m not that religious, but I’m very, very spiritual. I grew up in a very religious environment. I grew up with a biblical background and I’m glad that was the case.”

In an interview in 2023 with The guardParton said, “I’m not such a good Christian that I think I’m so good that I can judge people. That’s God’s job, not mine. When it comes to politics, I hate politics.”

💬What Dolly Parton’s fans are saying now

Fans on X, formerly Twitter, were less than pleased that the Federalist endorsed Parton. (Another Federalist writer declared in 2016 that the “Islands in the Stream” singer would make an excellent president.)

“They came for Dolly. We ride at dawn,” wrote one fan alongside a screenshot of the article.

“Guys, a land war in Asia is the SECOND biggest mistake you can make,” added another. “The first? He’s coming for Dolly Parton.”

“No. You are not going after Dolly Parton. You definitely aren’t,” a third commented.

“I will stalk everyone on this app… except Dolly Parton,” another shared. “Delete your entire account.”

🏳️‍🌈What Dolly Parton said about the LGBTQ community

Although Parton detests politics, she spoke to the Hollywood Reporter in 2023 about how the recent spate of anti-LGBTQ laws is affecting the people she loves.

“In my immediate family and in my co-workers, there’s a little bit of everyone,” she explained. “I have transgender people. I have gay people. I have lesbians. I have drinkers. I have drug addicts – all in my own family. I know and love them all and don’t judge. And I just see how heartbroken they get over certain things and I know how real they are.”

She continued, “I know how important this is to them. That’s just the way they are. It’s not their fault, any more than I can help the fact that I’m Dolly Parton, you know, the way people know me. If there’s anything to judge, that’s God’s business. But we’re all God’s children and how we are is who we are.”

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