Dolly Parton’s Grace

Entertainer Dolly Parton recently passed away from cancer at age 80. Her singing career began when she was only ten years old and continued for the next 70 years. I read an article about an interview she had with journalist Barbara Walters in 1978. The article was written by Dorie Clark, who taught communication at Columbia and Duke Universities. She praised Dolly Parton’s grace in handling a situation where someone talked down to her.

Barbara Walters was a prominent TV journalist, and Dolly Parton was a young rising star. Walters asked questions that could be considered insulting put-downs, criticizing her lower-class origins in Tennessee. Parton handled it with poise and grace while preserving her dignity. Parton began by briefly talking about growing up as one of twelve siblings in Tennessee. Walters interrupted by asking, “Dolly, where I come from, would I have called you a hillbilly?” Walters was obviously demeaning her at the very beginning of the interview.

Dolly Parton’s grace comes across when she responds to an insult by accepting the “hillbilly” label. She didn’t become offended or argue. She reframed the label by saying her people are proud, practical, and wise rather than backward or ignorant. I thought about how skeptics often try to demean Christians. “You mean to tell me you are one of those ignorant people who believe in Jesus, God, and the Bible?”

When we are confronted by an unbeliever in that way, do we cower, become angry, or strike back? Perhaps we should follow Dolly Parton’s grace when someone tries to put us down. Dolly’s response was, “We were very proud people, people with a lot of class. It was country class, but it was a great deal of class… Most of my people were not that educated, but they are very, very intelligent. Good common sense, horse sense, we called it.” Walters went on to ask Parton if she felt that she was a joke. Dolly took it in stride, when others would take offense. She said, “I am sure of myself as a person. I am sure of my talent.”

You can criticize her for her actions and style, or you can love her for her talent, confidence, and charity. My point is that we should demonstrate Dolly Parton’s grace when someone criticizes us for being one of “those ignorant Christians.” By being confident in what we believe and ready to defend it with facts and evidence, we can stand up to those who try to insult us for our faith. Instead of getting angry, we can show skeptics that Christians are intelligent, common-sense people who demonstrate God’s love for everyone, even those who criticize us for our faith. Soon in the interview, Barbara seemed to have a new respect for Dolly. Christians should learn from Dolly Parton’s grace to face criticism with confidence and truth.

— Roland Earnst © 2026

 References: You can read the article on msn.com and watch the interview on YouTube.com