Dolly Parton Defends Her Unique Style in Resurfaced Barbara Walters Interview: ‘It’s a Choice’
The country superstar's grace and wit shine in this 1977 clip now going viral for all the right reasons
Dolly Parton showcased her grace and individuality in a resurfaced 1977 Barbara Walters interview. When questioned about her style, Parton stayed true to herself with a kind yet powerful response. .
Famed journalist, Walters, said to Parton in the interview, “You don’t have to look like this. You’re very beautiful, you don’t have to wear the blonde wigs, you don’t have to wear the extreme clothes, right?”
But rather than take offense to the question, Parton explained her exact reason for dressing in her eccentric style in the most Dolly way ever.
“It’s certainly a choice,” Parton responded. “I don’t like to be like everybody else. I’ve often made this statement that I would never stoop so low as to be fashionable, that’s the easiest thing in the world to do. So, I just decided that I would do something that would at least get the attention and once they got past the shock of the ridiculous way I looked and all that, then they would see there was a part of me to be appreciated.”
Dolly Parton acknowledged that while people might only see her as a country superstar, she’s content with being true to herself.
“I’m very real where it counts,” Parton explained, “and that’s inside. And as far as my outlook on life and the way I care about people, and the way I care about myself and the things that I care about, but I just chose to do this… Show business is a money-making joke and I’ve just always liked telling jokes.”
Seemingly surprised by the response, Walters offered a follow-up question asking, “But do you ever feel that you’re a joke, that people make fun of you?” This only prompted an even more powerful response from Parton.
“Oh, I know they make fun of me,” she answered. “But actually, all these years, the people have thought the joke was on me, but it’s actually been on the public. I know exactly what I’m doing, and I can change it at any time.”
Dolly Parton and Barbara Walters: the story behind their 1977 interview
While Dolly Parton was a cultural phenomenon, Barbara Walters was an award-winning journalist who didn’t shy away from the tough questions. She was known for being fearless with her interviewing style and asking things that might be considered rude.
In fact, Parton revealed in her memoir, Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business, that she was warned against taking the interview with Walters.
“When I decided to do my first Barbara Walters special, a lot of people warned, ‘Oh, you’re crazy to do that! She’ll chew you up and spit you out,” Parton wrote. But that didn’t scare Parton, as she responded to Walters’ questioning with grace and class.
Dolly Parton’s authenticity shines through
While it is undeniable that Parton is full of talent and light, the musician only confirmed that in her interview. The country icon went on to explain that she believed in herself as a person and an artist.
“I am sure of myself as a person. I’m sure of my talent…” Parton explained. “And I’m sure of my love for life… I’m very content. I like the kind of person that I am. So, I can afford to piddle around and do diddle around with makeup and clothes and stuff because I am secure with myself.”
Decades later, this interview continues to inspire audiences with Parton’s unwavering confidence and kindness.
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