Trump Says Dolly Parton ‘Really Liked Me’ but Stayed Out of Politics to Avoid Alienating Fans
President Donald Trump says country music legend Dolly Parton privately liked him but deliberately stayed away from partisan politics because she did not want political endorsements to divide her enormous fan base. The president made the remarks Wednesday while reflecting on Parton’s death at age 80.
Speaking with radio host Glenn Beck, Trump described Parton as a uniquely beloved American figure whose death felt almost like losing a member of the family. He said he knew the country superstar “a little bit” and remembered her as a genuinely kind person.
Trump then addressed Parton’s famously cautious approach to politics. “She really liked me, I will tell you,” Trump said, while explaining that Parton understood publicly embracing one political side could cost her a significant portion of her audience.
Parton spent decades largely refusing to identify herself with either major political party. She occasionally spoke publicly about particular issues, but generally avoided endorsing presidential candidates or turning her enormous cultural influence into a partisan political platform.
That approach helped Parton maintain an unusually broad following in an increasingly polarized country. Following her death, tributes arrived from Republicans, Democrats and entertainers from across the cultural and political spectrum, underscoring how successfully she had remained above many partisan divisions.
Trump had attempted to honor Parton during his first administration by offering her the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice. Parton later explained that she declined the first offer because her husband was ill and the second because she did not want to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parton was subsequently offered the honor during the Biden administration as well, but she remained hesitant. She explained that accepting it at that point could be interpreted as taking a political side, something she had spent much of her career carefully avoiding.
Trump nevertheless remained a fan of Parton and her music. Her signature hit “Jolene” was included in his campaign playlist, and his comments Wednesday made clear that he viewed her decision to remain publicly apolitical as a business and personal choice rather than evidence that she disliked him.
Following Parton’s death Tuesday, Trump delivered one of the highest-profile tributes from Washington. He described her as one of the greatest country singers ever and said her passing represented a tremendous loss for millions of people.
Trump then issued an official proclamation ordering American flags lowered to half-staff at the White House, federal buildings, military installations, naval vessels and American diplomatic facilities around the world. The order remains in effect through sunset on Sept. 1.
The president defended that extraordinary tribute Wednesday, saying lowering the flags felt like the natural response to losing someone who had become such an important part of American culture. He described Parton as both an extraordinary entertainer and simply a “nice person” whom he personally admired.
Parton’s ability to maintain affection across political lines was one of the defining characteristics of her public life. Even when discussing controversial subjects, she typically emphasized kindness, individual beliefs and bringing people together rather than attaching herself to a political party.
Trump’s comments now add another personal detail to the relationship between the president and the late country legend. According to Trump, Parton may have deliberately avoided publicly choosing political sides, but behind the scenes, he believes the affection between them was genuine.