Pivot · Friday, August 28, 2026
Kara Swisher and Kaitlyn Collins discussed the legacy of Dolly Parton, highlighting her ability to enact political change through quiet actions and her power to unite diverse groups of people. Collins noted Parton's support for the Moderna vaccine, feminist causes, trans people, and Black Lives Matter as examples of her subtle political influence.
“Oh, but I think she was politically related in a way that was very different. I think she did a lot of political things without saying them out loud. She was someone who's called a quiet politics, like in terms of her actions, whether it was supporting the Moderna vaccine or whether it was, you know, doing all manner of feminist things without having to say so, or supporting trans people or supporting Black Lives Matter.”
“But Dolly was selected, they let Dolly pick who she wanted. She picked Melissa Etheridge. And it was in 2003. It was at a time when the gay marriage debate was raging in the United States. And Melissa said for her to be invited in that moment to share the stage with her was so special and so meaningful to her.”