Dolly Parton Is Done With Politicians

Dolly Parton has shifted her views on the importance of speaking out about politics – she’d long resisted sharing her takes on the modern state of affairs, but with her just-released single World On Fire, she’s declared that she can no longer sit in silence. 

The lead single to Parton’s forthcoming 49th album, Rockstar, was released just last week. Alongside a belting rock’n’roll tone, it sports some of the country legend’s most poignant lyrics – in the very first verse, she quips: “Now, I ain't one for speakin’ out much / But that don't mean I don’t stay in touch / Everybody’s trippin’ over this or that / What we gonna do when we all fall flat?"

Parton’s fervour only burns more fiercely from there, as she sings in the rousing third verse: “Don't get me started on politics / Now how are we to live in a world like this? / Greedy politicians, present and past / They wouldn't know the truth if it bit 'em in the ass.”

World On Fire blindsided many of Parton’s fans, who after nearly 50 studio albums and some seven decades of singing for everyone on the political spectrum, never expected her to take such a stance. But as she explained in a new interview with NBC’s Today, Parton is simply fed up with the bonkers state of politics in the western world. 

She didn’t outwardly throw her backing behind one political party, but when asked which politicians she’d aimed to address with World On Fire, Parton answered: “All of ‘em. I don't think any of ‘em are trying hard enough. I’m sure we're all trying, but often I think that they worry more about the party than they do about the people. If we just do what we felt was the right thing, rather than, ‘Who’s gonna lose? Who's gonna win this? Who's gonna look better if they do this?’ Rather than what comes from the heart.”

You can take a look at the full Today interview below.

Rockstar is due out on November 17 via Butterfly Records and Big Machine. It’ll feature a downright wild 30 songs – mostly covers of rock’n’roll classics – with guests including Richie Sambora, Sting, Steve Perry, Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, Chris Stapleton, Miley Cyrus, Brandi Carlile, Elton John, Lizzo, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Mick Fleetwood.

Earlier this month, Parton co-hosted this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards alongside Garth Brooks. It was a rather eventful ceremony – not just for all the winners that took home enormous titles, but also for Parton’s undeniable chemistry with Brooks.