Trump Leaks Huge Dolly Parton Secret
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that country music legend Dolly Parton had a fondness for him, while describing her as someone who largely stayed away from partisan politics.
“She was unique. She was amazing, and to lose her, it’s like losing a member of the family,” Trump said during an interview with conservative host Glenn Beck.
Trump said he knew Parton personally to some extent but noted that she generally avoided political battles.
“She wasn’t a very political person,” Trump said. “She really liked me, I will tell you.”
Parton’s family announced Tuesday that the beloved singer had died at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes from political leaders, entertainers and fans across the political spectrum.
Trump announced on Truth Social that flags around the country would be lowered in her honor, while former President Barack Obama also remembered Parton, saying it was difficult to think of many people who had made a greater impact.
Parton deliberately kept her political affiliation private throughout her career and generally avoided endorsing candidates. She frequently told interviewers that she preferred not to get involved in politics.
At the same time, the singer did publicly support several social causes. She was an advocate for LGBTQ rights and opposed several anti-transgender measures introduced in her home state of Tennessee in 2023.
Her charitable work extended well beyond politics. Parton became particularly well known for promoting childhood literacy through her Imagination Library program, which provides books to children, and she supported medical research and other charitable efforts.
Her ability to maintain broad appeal was a major part of her legacy. Parton built a career that crossed traditional political and cultural boundaries, attracting fans who often disagreed sharply on political issues.
Parton also declined offers of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from both Trump and former President Joe Biden.
Trump’s comments highlight the unusual relationship Parton had with American politics: she was frequently embraced by conservatives for her traditional country roots while also earning admiration from liberals because of her charitable work and positions on certain social issues.
Despite the occasional political controversy surrounding her, Parton consistently maintained that politics was not what she wanted her public identity to be about.
Her death has instead renewed attention on a career that spanned generations and made her one of the most recognizable figures in American music and entertainment.
