Dolly Parton is rarely political. But legendary country music has expressed its support for the Black Lives Matter movement in light of recent protests over the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other unarmed black people.
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In a new interview with Billboard, Parton says she is “untimely in her support” of Protestants within the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I understand people need to make themselves known and feel and be seen,” Parton says. “And of course Black matter lives. Do we think our little white asses are the only ones who matter? No!”
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The article also refers to Parton’s 2018 decision to rename its Dixie Stampede dinner attraction as Dolly Parton’s Stamply, due to the racist connotations of the word “Dixie” and its association with the Confederacy, as well as Dollywood Co.’s plans. to expand into an international market. The name change predates similar to the country trio Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) and the Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) which happened two years later in response to the protests of Black Lives Matter.
“There’s such a thing as innocent ignorance, and so many of us are guilty of it,” Parton says. “When they said ‘Dixie’ was an insulting word, I thought, ‘Well, I do not want to offend anyone. This is a business. We’ll just call it the Stampede.’ Once you realize that [something] is a problem, you need to fix it. Do not be dumb. That’s where my heart is. I would never dream of someone with the intention of hurting. “
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In May, Parton released a video for the song “When Life Is Good Again”, which instructed fans to “be safe, be respectful, wear your mask, lead with love.” She will be releasing her first holiday music album in October 30th with the newly released LP “A Holly Dolly Christmas. “
