Would Dolly Parton Have Accepted the ‘Person of the Year’ Award?
TIME Magazine announced in December 2021 that Tesla CEO Elon Musk was their Person of the Year. While the title was met with a significant amount of grumbling, some of the greatest backlash has come from Dolly Parton fans. Unhappy with Musk’s new label, they believe that Parton should have received the prestigious award. Despite their protestations, would Parton have accepted the title?
Dolly Parton fans think she should have been the ‘Person of the Year’
The backlash to TIME’s announcement was swift, though this is by no means the first time the Person of the Year has been controversial. Famously, Adolph Hitler was granted the title in 1938 and Joseph Stalin in 1939 and 1942. This year, anger primarily comes from those who think others deserve the title. Many of Parton’s fans feel that she should have received the award instead.
In recent years, Parton’s philanthropic efforts have gained her a new crop of fans. She donated $1 million to COVID vaccine research, resulting in the Moderna shot. Her Imagination Library charity also provides free books to millions of children under the age of five.
“Dolly Parton, not Elon Musk deserved to be Time’s Person of the Year,” reads one tweet that has amassed over 140,000 likes.
“The fact Dolly Parton isn’t Time’s Person of the Year should be something that enrages us all,” another person wrote.
Most people point to Parton’s significant contribution to vaccine research. While she made her donation in 2020, the vaccines became publicly available in 2021. Many fans, however, simply believe that Parton deserves the award every year.
Dolly Parton isn’t comfortable with celebrity worship
Despite the clamoring of Parton’s fans, one person pointed out that she may not even want the title.
Parton has indeed turned down similar honors in the past. In 2021, the Tennessee General Assembly proposed a bill that would place a statue of the singer at the State Capitol. Parton politely declined.
“Given all that is going on in the world, I don’t think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time,” Parton said in a statement, per The New York Times.
She’s also explicitly stated that she feels uncomfortable with celebrity worship.
“I don’t want to be worshiped, because there’s a scripture in my Bible that talks about idol worship,” she told People. “And I see that happening all the time with movie stars and these celebrities. People literally worship them more than they worship God. And I just — I cringe at it sometimes.”
She shared that although she accepted the distinction of being one of People Magazine’s People of the Year, she had her reservations.
“I have to honestly tell you, I was a little bit skeptical of being put on the cover as one of the People of the Year,” she said. “Because that’s a lot of pressure. But, yeah, it’s like, I am not all that. I’m glad that I stand for enough stuff to where I’m not the worst person in the world.”
Still, she accepted and likely would have done the same for Person of the Year. She appreciates the message that it sends.
“If I can set an example, then that’s great.”
Dolly Parton is one of the most awarded country music artists of all time
Though Parton may be a bit uncomfortable accepting certain types of recognition, she has no problem with the awards her music has earned her. Parton is one of the most awarded country music artists, with honors and accolades that include Grammy, Emmy, Oscar, and Tony nominations. Though she hasn’t EGOTed yet, it doesn’t seem out of the question for someone with her prolific talent.
