After critics blasted Dolly Parton over her collaboration with Kid Rock, the country singer decided to take a stand in favor of the conservative rock star.
All her life, Dolly Parton has focused on sharing joy through her music rather than dabbling in politics. This dedication came into question when she teamed up with Kid Rock for a duet on her album, “Rockstar,” prompting a wave of criticism from some fans.
In response to the backlash, Dolly clarified her stance, stating, “Somebody was talking to me, ‘How could you do this song with Kid?’ I said, ‘Hey, just because I love you doesn’t mean I don’t love Kid Rock. Just because I love Kid Rock doesn’t mean I don’t love you.’ I don’t condemn or criticize. I just accept and love.” She emphasized that her heart has room for everyone, despite disagreements.
Critics were particularly upset when Kid Rock posted a video of himself shooting up cases of Bud Light. This act was seen as a protest against the beer brand’s affiliation with transgender social media star Dylan Mulvaney, and likely contributed to the controversy surrounding Dolly’s collaboration with him.
During an interview, Dolly was reminded of the strong reactions to cancel culture, especially regarding her duet with Kid Rock. She stood firm, expressing her disapproval of cancel culture. “I think that’s terrible,” she said. “We all make mistakes. We don’t all get caught at it. But also, when somebody makes a mistake, it depends on who they are. That’s what God is there for.”
“I believe in God; I’m a faith-based person,” she continued. “So, I see it that way. But even if others don’t, we all deserve a second chance. Even when proven guilty, if God can forgive you, so can I. We all should be ready to forgive one another.”
Dolly’s compassion extends to all parts of her life. When asked about her thoughts on transgender people, she responded, “Well, what I always say is, ‘I just want everybody to be treated good.’ I try not to get into politics but focus on the human element. My own family and work circle includes all kinds of people.”
“I have transgender people, gays, lesbians,” Dolly added. “I have drunks, drug addicts—all within my own family. I know and love them all, and I don’t judge them… If there’s something to be judged, that’s God’s business. We are all God’s children, and who we are is who we are.”
Discussing technology and its impact on the music industry, Dolly was asked whether she would use artificial intelligence to resurrect a deceased performer like Elvis Presley for a new song. “No. I ain’t going to consider AI on nothing that concerns human beings,” she said. “Because I think it is a weapon and a tool that can be scary,” Dolly warned. “It’s going to be great for many things like science and medicine but not to replace human beings.”
“That scares me to death,” she admitted. “It’s like the mark of the beast. You can’t remake a person,” she said. “I don’t want that. I want to just leave a body of work behind. AI can be good if used the right way, but not to replace voices and writings, or a human being that belongs to God.”
