Liberal Media Attacks Dolly Parton for Loving Everyone and John Rich isn’t Having it

Beloved country music icon Dolly Parton was the subject of a left-wing publication that examined the supposed “dark side” of her universal appeal, and fellow musician John Rich wasn’t here for it.  

“I read this story and I thought, have these folks attacked everybody and now they’re so far down the list they have to make up an attack on Dolly Parton?” Rich said on Fox & Friends. “They talk about anti-fascist and all this other stuff, you know fascism is the suppression of opposition, but they are attacking Dolly for things she hasn’t even said.” 

In Vox’s “How Dolly Parton became a secular American saint,” the publication criticizes the singer for loving everyone despite their political beliefs, and her refusal to discuss politics in public.  

“Dolly Parton is beloved because she has devoted her career to standing for love. And, usefully, she is willing to be ambiguous about what exactly that love means and how much it includes people that those on different sides of the political aisle consider their enemies. But in a post-Trump America, is Dolly Parton’s love enough?” The writer posited.  

The Big & Rich singer has a better question: “You talk about going off the rails? This is something else.”

Vox’s article quotes Dolly Parton’s America host Jad Abumrad saying, “There’s something very Christ-like about her,” then follows up with:  “But America in the 21st century is no time for a secular pop saint. And there’s a dark side to Dolly’s ability to appeal, Christ-like, to all people at all times.”

“First of all,” said Rich. “Dolly probably doesn’t have a dark side… But if she did, it would be brighter than the brightest bright side of any other person.” He thinks liberal media outlets “want to control not only the narrative, they want to control your thoughts.” 

“If you say certain phrases or bring up certain ideas, you get kicked off platforms, but that’s not good enough for them,” he remarked. “They have to go after one of the most pure-hearted, positive, loving people in all of America.

He noted that this isn’t the first time Parton has been “attacked recently” in the media. She faced backlash for a Squarespace Super Bowl ad that reimagined her hit song “9 to 5” as “5 to 9,” which was criticized as “tone-deaf” for promoting the gig economy.  

In her defense, Rich tweeted, “Anyone finding fault with Ms Dolly inspiring folks to hustle and exhaust their potential doesn’t support Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness! Only a pitiful weakling would write this article.”

“There’s a concerted effort to attack her, but they need to lay off,” he concluded.

Marie Finn