13 Reasons Dolly Parton Has Always Gotten Love From Black Folks
Country music legend Dolly Parton has come to hold a special place in Black folks’ hearts over the years. So it’s no wonder that news of her death on Tuesday (August 25) has countless folks in our community mourning the beloved country music star. Parton reportedly passed away in Nashville, though no cause of death has been determined yet. She was 80.
From her signature blonde hair and dimpled smile to her glamorous persona and sweet Southern belle accent, it’s easy to see why Parton captured the love and adoration of our culture. She didn’t just collaborate with some of our favorite artists; she showed up for us as an ally and outspoken advocate for a variety of issues.
Given the truly sad news of her passing, we’re looking at all the reasons why we rock with the “Jolene” singer. So grab your cowgirl boots and get ready for a fun read—you might just learn something new. Rest easy, Dolly.
Dolly Parton Wanted Whitney Houston to Cover “I Will Always Love You” – and Was Grateful She Did
Most people know that Parton originally sang “I Will Always Love You” in 1974, but Whitney Houston breathed new life into the song when she covered it for her 1992 film, “The Bodyguard.” In a 2017 interview with Harry Connick Jr., Parton revealed that she was “grateful” that Houston sang her song, as she had submitted it for consideration for the film but never heard back. She also previously told Larry King that she was “flattered” and “honored” by Houston’s performance.
“When Whitney did ‘I Will Always Love You,’ Lord, I mean, that thing generated so much music,” Parton said. “There was a tabloid story saying that Whitney and I were in a big feud; she said it was her song, and I said it was mine. None of that was ever true. I was so flattered, so honored, and so lucky that she did it.”
Dolly Parton’s Surprising Investment of “I Will Always Love You” Royalties
Thanks to Houston’s rendition of the song, Parton received nearly $10 million in royalties. In an interview with Andy Cohen in 2021, she revealed that she used some of the money to invest in a Black neighborhood in Nashville. She purchased a commercial complex in Sevier Park as a way to honor Houston and dubbed it the “house Whitney built.”
She Changed Her Restaurant Name to Reflect the Right Side of History
In 2018, Parton changed the name of her popular Pigeon Forge, Tennessee dinner show from “Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede” to “Dolly Parton’s Stampede” in an effort to differentiate her business from the negative, racist connotations that the word “dixie” holds. Per historians, the word became an anthem for the Confederacy and was associated with the evils of slavery.
Pete Owens, Director of Media and Public Relations for World Choice Investments, which also co-owns Parton’s restaurant, said at the time that the name “clearly showed that there was a misconception about what our show was about. They don’t really seem to understand that the Stampede is a patriotic, spectacular show.”
Dolly Parton Believed Black Lives Matter
Parton used her platform to support the Black Lives Matter movement during a painfully divisive time in the country after the death of George Floyd.
“I do understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen. And of course Black Lives Matter. Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter? No, everybody matters,” Parton said in an interview in 2020 during the height of the George Floyd protests. Her words echoed across the internet and consequently led to her receiving a mural in Nashville.
Dolly Parton Supported Beyoncé’s “Jolene” Cover and Foray Into Country Music
In a post to Instagram in February 2024, Parton weighed in on the conversation surrounding Beyoné’s country singles, “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold’em,” showing nothing but love to the “Renaissance” artist. She later cosigned Bey’s cover of “Jolene.”
“I think it was very bold of her,” Parton told E! News in May 2024. “When they said she was gonna do ‘Jolene,’ I expected it to be my regular one, but it wasn’t. But I love what she did to it. And as a songwriter, you love the fact that people do your songs no matter how they do them.”
Dolly Parton’s Fashion Game Was Always on Point, Just Like Us
Black TikToker Camille Viviana praised Parton for her always over-the-top and unapologetic glam.
“People say she’s tacky, I say she’s iconic: Miss Dolly Parton,” she said. She later went on to say that deliberately “doing too much” with her fashion and hair made her admirable due to her authenticity and confidence to be herself. That’s something Black folks know a lot about!
She Was a Philanthropic Queen
Viviana also reminded us that Parton’s generosity knew no bounds. As part of her Dollywood Foundation, she started the Imagination Library in 1995 to promote literacy in children from birth to age five by providing free books.
Black Folks’ Love for Dolly is so Strong, It’s Sometimes Unexplainable
TikTok user Lil’ Lo couldn’t quite articulate why she rides so hard for Parton, but rest assured, she’s not playing when it comes to her country queen.
“I will not be explaining, I will not be elaborating. Just know that if you f*ck with this b*tch, you’re gonna have to f*cking go through me,” she said.
Sounds about right to us!
Dolly Parton Always Knew How to Read the Room
“For me, Dolly Parton is Betty White to y’all,” said TikTok user Lovely Monroe Doll88. “Something happen to her, I’mma just lose it.”
She went on to applaud the decision Parton made in 2021 to refuse to have a statue erected of her in Nashville. At the time, Parton cited the current social climate and felt the decision would’ve been inappropriate and respectfully declined the offer.
“That’s what you do,” the user said.
Dolly Was Street Smart and Business Savvy
TikTok user Shiheem praised Parton for her business savvy and for always having her ducks in a row when it came to her song credits and her money. If there’s one thing Black people don’t play about, it’s our money. It seems Parton was just like some of our other beloved singers, like Aretha Franklin, who made sure they got what was rightfully owed at the end of the day.
Dolly Parton Was One of the Few People We Would Adopt as Part of the “Black Delegation Trade-Off”
As part of a viral 2023 joke, when Black folks on social media were deciding which one of our kinfolks to trade to the white side in exchange for one of their non-problematic members, Parton’s name was consistently at the top of the list – and for good reason. We’d trade Clarence Thomas for Dolly any day!
Dolly Had The Black Community’s Watchful Eyes On Her
As noted by TikTok user Aubeney, Black people kept a close watch on Parton as rumors swirled about her experiencing health issues. She lost her husband of over three decades in 2025, which made us all extra vigilant to make sure she stayed on this side of heaven.
Black People Were Praying for Protection for Dolly Parton
Leave it to comedian Dulcé Sloan to bring some levity and spirituality to concerns about Parton’s health. She called on the prayer warriors and deacons to make sure Miss Dolly didn’t go to the pearly gates.
