Dolly Parton: I would’ve been a drag queen if I was born male
Dolly Parton has repeatedly spoken out in support of drag queens, particularly those who dress as her (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty)
Dolly Parton has said that she would’ve been a drag queen if she’d been born a boy.
The music legend was asked in an ABC News interview: “Is it true that you once said that it’s a good thing you were born a girl, otherwise you would have been a drag queen?”
Parton responded: “Yes, it is true. Because I’m so over-exaggerated and I have so many fans in the gay community, and the drag queens.”
“I even lost a Dolly Parton lookalike drag contest.”
— Dolly Parton
Parton, whose music will feature in Netflix‘s musical comedy film Dumplin’, released on Friday (December 7), was questioned by Jennifer Aniston, who acts in and produced the film.
The “Jolene” singer told Aniston, whose film also features bisexual actress Cameron Dove and non-binary star Bex Taylor-Klaus, that “I’ve always had these drag queens dress like me. And I even lost a Dolly Parton lookalike contest.”
Speaking to ABC News in 2012, she told the story of that night, saying: “They had a bunch of Chers and Dollys that year, so I just over-exaggerated—made my beauty mark bigger, the eyes bigger, the hair bigger, everything.
“All these beautiful drag queens had worked for weeks and months getting their clothes. So I just got in the line and I just walked across, and they just thought I was some little short gay guy… but I got the least applause.”
Dolly Parton has long been an LGBT+ advocate
The US country artist has been a supporter of LGBT+ people for many years.
In 2012, she denied rumours that she was a lesbian, but said: “If I was gay, I would have come out of the closet just a-flying.”
Jane Fonda is set to star alongside Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton in the remake of cult classic 9 to 5 (Kevin Winter/Getty)
Parton also responded wonderfully to a wave of anti-trans legislation across the US in 2016, when more than 20 bills were filed attempting to repeal vital LGBT rights protections, purportedly to stop trans women from using women’s bathrooms.
She said: “I think everybody should be treated with respect. I don’t judge people and I try not to get too caught up in the controversy of things. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are.”
The star, who is set to star in a sequel to the cult classic film 9 to 5, added: “I just know, if I have to pee, I’m gonn’ pee, wherever it’s got to be.”
Parton also spoke out in favour of same-sex marriage ahead of Australia’s postal vote on the issue last year, which led to the legalisation of marriage equality.
She said that “love is love and we have no control over that… I think people should be allowed to [marry].”
