Posted on Aug 19, 2020

It's Impossible To Hate Dolly Parton, And If You Don't Believe Me, Here Are 16 Of Her Best Moments

"I'd like to think I've got a brain beneath the wig and a heart beneath the boobs."

Kayla Yandoli

by Kayla Yandoli

BuzzFeed Staff

1. When Dolly reunited with her 9 to 5 co-stars at the 2017 Emmys and made this hilarious vibrator joke.

Dolly to Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin: "Congratulations on your nomination for your show! I'm just hoping I'm gonna get one of those 'Grace and Frankie' vibrators in my swag bag tonight"

2. When she wasn't afraid to call out the cruel and sexist criticism she received early on in her career because of her appearance.

Dolly to a CBS interviewer: "I'd like to think I've got a brain beneath the wig and a heart beneath the boobs"

3. When she used her platform responsibly and supported the Black Lives Matter movement by saying: "Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter? No!"

Dolly: "Of course Black lives matter. Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter? No!"

4. When the New York Times asked Dolly if she enjoyed fans dressing up like her at her concerts, and she responded with nothing but positivity.

Dolly: "When I do 'Jolene' and I see a bunch of drag queens out there, I start singing: 'Drag queen, drag queen, drag queen!' I have a huge gay following, and I'm proud of them"

5. When she founded a reading program, called Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, to send free books to children every month from the day they're born until they're 5 years old.

6. When Barbara Walters asked Dolly if she thought she was a joke, and she shut her down with pure confidence.

Dolly: "All these years, the people thought the joke was on me, but the joke's actually been on the public. I'm sure of myself as a person. I can piddle around with makeup because I'm secure with myself"

7. When she co-founded a production company, called Sandollar Entertainment, and was responsible for producing the iconic TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

8. When she made this dirty joke about Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy in-between takes while filming 9 to 5.

Dolly: "Do you know what's green and smells like Missy Piggy? Kermit's finger." Jane Fonda laughs in response

9. When she lost the Oscar for Best Original Song to Three 6 Mafia in 2006 and still cheered them on like the amazing person she is.

ABC

10. When Dolly wasn't afraid to have a little fun on social media and joined in on the "Me on LinkedIn vs. Facebook vs. Instagram vs. Tinder" meme.

Instagram

11. When Elvis Presley wanted to record "I Will Always Love You" but she turned him down because he wanted half of the publishing rights.

Dolly: "I just couldn't do it, 'cause I was leaving that for my family. But after Whitney [Houston] recorded it, I realized that was the best choice"

12. When she refused to hold anything back and defended her queer fans during an interview with Billboard.

Dolly: "They know I completely love and accept them, as I do all people. I think everybody should be allowed to be who they are, and to love who they love"

13. When she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to fund scientific research for COVID-19.

14. When she dissed and dismissed her husband on The Tonight Show when she revealed he wanted to have a threesome with Jennifer Aniston.

Dolly while laughing: "He can't even get it out to pee, much less get it up for three!"

15. When she led an incredibly moving rehearsal of "Eagle When She Flies" backstage with Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, and Linda Perry.

Instagram

16. And when a stranger gave Dolly the middle finger while she went sightseeing in London, and she flipped it right back.

Dolly on stage: "This woman with purple and green and blue hair went like this. I thought my fans in London don't want that to happen to me, so I went like that [middle finger gesture] back -- is that okay?"

Share This Article

BuzzFeed Daily

Keep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter!