Orville Peck and The Wiggles are embracing a classic queer-coded phrase in their latest collaboration. Peck, the masked gay country singer, has teamed up with The Wiggles, the beloved Australian children’s music group, for a new song titled Friends of Dorothy. The track appears on Wiggle Up, Giddy Up!, The Wiggles’ country-themed album, and playfully celebrates Dorothy the Dinosaur—while also offering a knowing wink to the LGBTQ community. While nothing in the lyrics is explicitly queer, those familiar with queer history will recognize the message of inclusion and support.
The phrase “friends of Dorothy” has long been used to discreetly identify fellow gay individuals, with its origins often linked to The Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy Gale or writer Dorothy Parker. Judy Garland, who played Dorothy in the 1939 film, remains a legendary gay icon, with her devoted LGBTQ fanbase shaping queer culture for generations. Friends of Dorothy is just one of the collaborations on Wiggle Up, Giddy Up!—which also features Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson, and more.
