Opinion

BROADCAST BIAS: Dolly Parton taught the world the way to be universally beloved

Iconic entertainer deflected political questions while letting philanthropy and kindness define her legacy

By Tim Graham Fox News

Published August 29, 2026 9:00am EDT

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Looking back at the country music legend Dolly Parton's life

'The Five' panel reflects on country music icon Dolly Parton's legendary life and career.

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When the news broke that Dolly Parton had died at age 80, the networks exploded in tributes and primetime specials about her career in music and acting and her plethora of good works. Everyone remarked on how rare it was that someone could be universally beloved. How could that be done?

Some of the answer to that is simple: Be kind to everyone. Be generous in spirit and with your wealth. One crucial thing, especially in the last 10 years, is to steer entirely clear of politics, if such a thing is possible. The media has tried to shame entertainers who refuse to speak on politics. Dolly brought her aura of celebrity and philanthropy in a way that she could escape the shaming attempts.

But she perfected the formula a long time ago, ingratiating herself to a broad audience. One of the old TV clips making the rounds was a 1977 interview on ABC with Barbara Walters, who asked questions that could........

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