Dolly Parton doesn't label herself a feminist

25 February 2019

Dolly Parton does not label herself as a feminist.

Dolly Parton

The 73-year-old country singer is a role model to countless women all over the world for her incredible music career and acumen as a businesswoman, however, she doesn't feel the need to "march, hold up a sign or label myself" to prove she supports other girls.

In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, she said: "I don't think ... I mean I must be if being a feminist means I'm all for women, yes. But I don't feel I have to march, hold up a sign or label myself.

"I think the way I have conducted my life and business and myself speaks for itself. I don't think of it as being a feminist. It's not a label I have to put on myself. I'm just all for girls."

The 'Jolene' hitmaker went on to explain that she chose to accept a part in the iconic 1980 comedy film '9 to 5' - which followed three female secretaries, who decide to get revenge on their tyrannical, sexist boss by abducting him and running the business themselves - not because of its message of female empowerment but for the chance to work with "big stars" Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

Dolly - who wrote the theme song to the movie - said: "I didn't think of it in those terms to be honest with you. I was thinking more in terms of business than subject matter. Jane was a big star and so was Lily, so I thought, 'This is great. If it's a big movie we can share the glory and if it's a flop it's on them.' And Jane says, 'Well Dolly will give us audiences in the South.' "

The 'Islands In the Stream' singer famously appeared alongside Fonda and Tomlin on stage at the Emmys in 2017 and her two former co-stars both openly condemned American President Donald Trump on stage, however, she did not want to join them in their political protest.

She said: "I want to be my own individual self. If I've got something to say, I'll say it, but I don't want to be dragged into it. It was not a surprise, knowing Lily and Jane. I just did not want everybody to think that whatever they think is what I think. I don't really like getting up on TV and saying political things. I don't even want to make a deal out of it, but I want people to know I'm my own individual self."