The singer has the political talent to take stands – on gay rights, or child literacy – without losing her conservative heartland fans
At 77, Dolly Parton is justly being celebrated, along with her more established virtues, for an ability to unite disparate groups. She has, it’s claimed, an equally strong fanbase in the Trumpian “Rust Belt” as among the gay clubbers of New York City, to pick two of America’s polarised stereotypes.
Her London visit to promote a new rock-influenced double album and a book is proving just how broad that Parton cultural spectrum is. Gathered in a grand hotel last week to cheer her on and, ostensibly at least, to ask some searching questions, her admirers included a contingent of social media “influencers” in their 20s, dressed in tank tops, UK charity-shop shabby chic and man-buns. Alongside them sat hoary representatives of the British music press, some of them diehard country-music listeners.
