Dolly Parton Thinks She Is a Feminist and Believes Women Can Do Whatever They Want To
Dolly Parton might embrace the label of feminist, but only if it's in line with her straightforward principle. The country icon is still wary of the term as she stays positive for post-COVID-19 life.
Dolly Parton, 74, has stayed away from the term feminist in the past. Yet in a new interview with Time magazine, the singer is finally closing in on the distance between her and the word.
The "Jolene" singer spoke to the outlet about the coronavirus pandemic, which still has the nation under lockdown. She's just released a song of positivity for when the crisis finally ends.
PARTON STEPS UP DURING THE PANDEMIC
For her part, Parton has also donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where studies are being done to find a treatment and look into coronavirus prevention.
The country legend has further used her organization, Imagination Library, to raise donations. Her YouTube series, "Goodnight with Dolly," features her reading children's books weekly.
Speaking to Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal, Parton tried to determine whether or not her actions could put her in the category of feminist.
PARTON AGREES TO THE TERM FEMINIST
She stated: "I suppose I am a feminist if I believe that women should be able to do anything they want to. And when I say a feminist, I just mean I don't have to, for myself, get out and carry signs."
She continued: "I just really feel I can live my femininity and actually show that you can be a woman, and you can still do whatever you want to do." Parton believes that other women are more suitable for the term.
She emphasized that she's in support of all women, but she doesn't care for titles. As for what she's doing in her own time during the pandemic, it's all about the music.
"I really try to write what I think everybody is going through right now," the singer explained. She ended with some words of encouragement and the timeless motto, this too shall pass.
BEING LABELED A FEMINIST 10 YEARS AGO
In February 2019, Parton expressed a similar take on the feminist label when she spoke to Sky News. At the time, the "9 to 5" singer said she doesn't know what a feminist is, though people often ask her about it.
Undoubtedly, Parton is proud of her womanhood and what's accomplished as one. She'd surely like to see a woman leading the country in the future — once they're capable of course.
In 2009, an article from Independent did a story on Parton labeling her a "feminist heroine." The story pointed to Parton's simple but powerful messages in her song and her decades-long success.
Dolly Parton accepts the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year Award on February 8, 2019. | Photo: Getty Images
SHE SHAKES OFF THE TERM WITH JOY BEHAR
More recently, Parton released her limited Netflix series called "Heartstrings," which documents how her most popular songs came out of real-life stories.
Surrounding the November release, Parton spoke to Joy Behar about the term feminist once again. "Does being feminine makes me a feminist? Does being common make me a communist?" she asked at the time.
Well, being a singer and writer certainly makes her a songstress. And one we're happy to have with everything that's going on. We're just glad Parton is still making music while empowering women.