Dolly Parton turned 80 recently, and honestly? The woman has been an LGBTQ+ ally longer than some of us have been out. From music to Dollywood to TikTok, Dolly has always shown up swinging for her queer fans. Back in 1991, her album Eagle When She Flies featured the song “Family,” boldly declaring “Some are preachers / some are gay / some are addicts, drunks and strays / But not a one is turned away when it’s family.” In 2011, when a Dollywood guest was told to cover her marriage equality shirt, Dolly swiftly shut that down, reaffirming her full support for LGBTQ+ families. And when she joined TikTok in 2022, she proudly spotlighted drag queens and trans creators celebrating her legacy.
