'People are people': How Dolly Parton became an unlikely 2SLGBTQ+ icon, ally and advocate
Country music legend Dolly Parton has passed away at age 80 following a battle with cancer. The article highlights her enduring legacy as a dedicated advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ rights and her reputation as a unifying cultural icon.
Why it matters
Parton's death marks the loss of a significant cultural figure whose advocacy bridged gaps between traditional country music audiences and the queer community.
Yet the omnipresent country music legend was as celebrated for her advocacy as much as her music. She spent decades championing women's rights, civil rights and gay rights, while openly denouncing several recent anti-trans and anti-drag bills, telling the Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that "I just want everybody to be treated good."
"I think everybody should be allowed to be who they are, and to love who they love. I don't think we should be judgmental," Parton told Billboard about her gay fanbase in 2014.
"Lord, I've got enough problems of my own to pass judgment on somebody else."
Parton, 80, died Tuesday in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer. Her publicist said she died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. And among the many, many tributes pouring in celebrating the star's life and legacy , there's a common thread: her advocacy, allyship and enduring love for her 2SLGBTQ+ fans.
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