Dolly Parton took control of her career by making men the butt of the joke

Whether ad-libbing her way through a duet or joking about her glamorous image, Parton turned sexist assumptions into a source of power.

By: Stephanie Vander Wel, University at Buffalo, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 28, 2026

Words: 1,217

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

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By Stephanie Vander Wel, University at Buffalo

Of all the moments that capture Dolly Parton’s musical talents, fierce intelligence and driving ambition, I often find myself thinking back to an awkward, ad-libbed live television duet on “The Porter Wagoner Show.”

The year was 1973. Parton had been performing alongside Wagoner on the syndicated variety show since 1967. Though this had been her big break in Nashville, Parton was feeling confined by playing second fiddle …

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