Dolly Parton's Americ How She Set Celebrity Culture And Norms

Luna Verner

Ms. Zanter

Composition and Reading

2 May 2023

“Dolly Parton’s America: How She Set Celebrity Culture and Norms

Dolly Parton once said something that speaks to all of us: “I am not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.” What she means is she's not going to let anyone tell her what to do and how to live her life. So she lived by this and made it her motto and built her life around it. Dolly Parton built the entertainment industry and made many contributions to it and normalized how women don’t have to be perfect and build themselves for other people's pleasure. She made it possible for every modern-day celebrity to be themselves and encourage civilians to do the same.

It was the norm to drop out of high school and move on to a regular job, or go learn a trade. By building this foundation, she made the dropout rate in her hometown, go from 36% to 5%. Little to no people have been able to motivate that number of kids. She found out that there is a certain logical standpoint to it. She took a step back and realized that the smarter move to fix the dropout rate was to talk to middle schoolers, not high schoolers. By doing this she made middle schoolers more aware of what they wanted to do in their lives. She was able to relate to them because, at one point in her life, she was just like them. No one encouraged her to be outgoing or chase her dreams. They did quite the opposite. So when she got old enough, she moved to Nashville to pursue her aspirations in music, Her unique look and personality were major factors in her success. She has a larger-than-life image as she wore outrageous outfits, had big statement hairstyles, and wore heavy makeup. Her look was a reflection of her personality, bubbly, outgoing, and unapologetic, for who she was and who she wanted to be. Female singers and actresses such as herself were expected to be ladylike, slim, and

“Dolly Parton's All-Embracing Country Vision • Country Queer.” Country Queer, https://countryqueer.com/stories/article/dolly-partons-all-embracing-country-vision/. Accessed 28 April 2023.

Dolly Parton is in my opinion a universal uniter. She unites everyone. You can find every single type of person at her concerts. People who you would think would hate each other feel comfortable about being at Dolly's concerts together. Happy and dancing and singing together. Her stance on the queer community is that it's cool. Gay or straight everyone is beautiful in their way and we should judge them based on who they love.

9 to 5, Directed by Collin Higgins, Performance by Actors, Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, 20th Century Studios, 1980

I have been sexually harassed like she was in the movie. I know how it makes you feel and takes you to a dark place. Everyone hated her for a stupid rumor and she overcame that. She took back her power. I liked how everyone else imaginary scenario was about killing him but hers was to give him a taste of his own medicine. She united these three women and together they made a fair and equal workplace without anything making the women