Dolly Parton admits she’s been ‘hit on’ all her life, but took a lot of that as a ‘compliment’

The country music legend shared her views on feminism in the wake of the #MeToo movement and admitted the advances of men in her work environment, but assures that nothing ever happened without her consent.

73-year-old Dolly Parton rarely does an interview without giving away some juicy revelation or making a controversial remark and now that the “9 to 5” musical featuring her songs has debuted she has been talking about feminist issues.

While she subscribes to the #MeToo movement, she has her own perspective of the issue of harassment in the workplace and makes a point out of complimenting the good men she has encountered along her long career.

9 TO 5 AND THE #METOO MOVEMENT

The “Jolene” singer is doing a press tour in the UK since the theatrical remake of the film she co-starred in 1980 is playing in London’s West End, and she talked to British TV network Sky News about some of the issues “9 to 5” deals with.

Although a comedy, the film reflects on serious issues regarding women in the workplace and their struggles with harassment and payment inequality, as three women plan revenge against their misogynistic boss.

Coming from very humble origins, Parton made herself a way into the music industry and her legacy goes beyond her songs, as she has paved the way for other women to be strong and take control of their own creative output.

With the movie been released nearly 40 years before the #MeToo movement, the film is considered by many a pioneer of the current resurgence of feminism in the mainstream discourse, and everybody wants to know what Parton thinks about it.

The star is aware of what women have to deal with when they pursue a profession and independency, but she is grateful about having navigated a successful career in the entertainment business without any major problem with men.

"Of course I've been hit on in my life. Any young girl would be. But a lot of that I just took as a compliment. I never did anything to try and get ahead in the business, I've never slept with anyone unless I wanted to."

-Dolly Parton, Sky News, February 19, 2019.

DOLLY’S FEMINISM

Parton doesn’t see feminism as hostile to men, and she said that she has known “more good men in my life than bad ones.” There are “a lot of bad women in this world too,” she added.

She considers herself lucky to be able to focus in her work and being respected but acknowledges the trouble many women have faced, and is happy to address all this in her “9 to 5” songs and her role in the original movie.

"It brought up the subject again with harassment in the workplace and the fact that women are still not getting the chance to do as much as they can or get paid equal for the work that they do," the star said.

"It's a work in progress as life itself is - especially women in the workplace. So I really think that's why we're here now with the new #MeToo movement,” she added.

DOLLY’S LEGACY

Coming from very humble origins, Parton made herself a way into the music industry and her legacy goes beyond her songs, as she has paved the way for other women to be strong and take control of their own creative output.

As godmother of the 27-year-old pop star Miley Cyrus, Parton showed support and understanding to her as she underwent a drastic change of style, subject matter, and personality in the process of leaving behind her Disney years.

"She was very proud of the work she did as Hannah Montana, but people were gonna leave her there forever...I will respect her choices. I did it my way, so why can't she do it her way?" Parton told Time in 2014.

Parton left her hometown Sevierville for good when she turned 18, but she has always been committed to giving something back to the community that saw her grow up to be a talented singer.

Thanks to her theme park “Dollywood,” Parton is currently the largest employer in the entire county. She also founded the Imagination Library charity in 1995 to help supply books to preschoolers, something that made her father very proud.