The Iconic and Cringe of Dolly Parton’s Thanksgiving Performance

Is it possible for a performance to feel unquestionably iconic and memorable, and still cringey at the same time? Because that’s how one may feel about Dolly Parton during the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders football game on Thanksgiving, 2023.
What worked with the performance, and the reason a lot of people were raving about it revealed itself immediately as the cameras trained on Dolly Parton coming out of the commercial break. To see Dolly Parton dressed up as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader was an epic moment of popular culture where two legendary fixtures of Americana collided.
Forget that she’s 77 and the skin parts of the costume were spandex, her stage attire was the genius of the performance and presentation, and also what immediately endeared it to large swaths of the audience. Don’t be surprised if you see that stage costume on display at Dollywood or the Country Music Hall of Fame in the future.
But Dolly Parton lip synced her performance, which we all pretty much knew was going to happen from the outset. What was a little bit shocking, and what revealed the lip syncing as obvious to many in the audience is how she also mimed her between-song banter, and the “Happy Thanksgiving!” at the end. Usually turning the mic on between songs is what helps conceal a lip synced performance as opposed to confirm it.
Every single performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade earlier in the day was lip synced. This is how these things go. A performance at the 50 yard line of a football game on Thanksgiving is not meant for the folks who take the time out of their day to read in-depth commentary about music on the internet. It’s for people who get really excited when chain restaurants offer things in pumpkin spice and peppermint flavor this time of year. It’s for the mainstream.
The other cringey aspect was how Dolly seemed to need the edge of the big Dallas Cowboys star on stage to steady herself as she moved from side to side. Apparently, Dolly was supposed to be on top of the star, but a technical malfunction meant she had to perform in front of it. Whatever footwear Parton was wearing was obfuscated by the front of the stage. Hopefully the height of her heels was the issue, and not some sort of underlying health concern.
But in truth, none of this really matters. Dolly Parton exudes more talent simply walking out on stage than most entertainers can muster in their entire careers. If you don’t believe that, just check out whatever Jack Harlow turned in during the Detroit Lions/Green Bay Packers game earlier in the day.
Dolly Parton’s legacy stretches beyond country music, football, America, and peppermint lattes, and she’s having a moment after her recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the release of her Rockstar album where she has the opportunity to be exposed to different and newer audiences.
There will be a day when we all wish Dolly Parton could still take to the field at a football game, and sing to a backing track or otherwise. She’s already announced her retirement from touring. There will be a day when there is no Dolly Parton in the present tense to offer a steady hand on the rudder of life and guiding wisdom to the world like she’s been doing for nearing seven decades.
And on that day—whether you enjoyed it or otherwise—you will remember Dolly Parton on Thanksgiving Day 2023 like you remember the first time you heard “Jolene” or “Coat of Many Colors,” or saw her sing “Islands in the Stream” with Kenny Rogers, or played opposite of Burt Reynolds in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Because if we’ve learned anything about Dolly Parton over the years, it’s that she’s memorable in whatever she does, and her legacy endures.
Watch Dolly Parton’s performance (not embeddable).
(This story has been updated)
November 24, 2023 @ 10:33 am
Well said. Lipsynching and auto-tune arguments don’t have to pollute every thread, especially on artists who have proven they can sing live many times over.
November 24, 2023 @ 6:53 pm
It was embarrassing too say the least. She’s too old and shows you that’s how long the Cowboys have won a Super Bowl. As old as dolly
November 25, 2023 @ 4:17 am
Oh please! You wouldn’t make a pimple on her ass!
November 26, 2023 @ 4:38 am
Cringe my ass. I’m an old school hard rock-metal fan and I loved Dolly’s performance. She is a music icon, a treasure in any musical genre. She represented your precious country music genre with perfection and gave country music a little class. . I guess your interpretation of an exciting halftime show would be Taylor Swift. LOL!
November 26, 2023 @ 11:15 am
It was fantastic and the only halftime show I’ve enjoyed in a very long time.
November 26, 2023 @ 11:21 am
Always gonna be jealous haters! She is perfection. We only wis we could look half as good at 77 in that iconic outfit! Dolly you Rocked like the superstar that you are! ????????
November 26, 2023 @ 4:06 pm
Man shut up!
November 25, 2023 @ 5:32 am
Hahaaa…too old for what . Dolly out stood those other fakes.
Ohhhhkay OMAR ……Silly ar ????
November 25, 2023 @ 11:23 am
She looked awesome and I am not a Dallas fan…
November 25, 2023 @ 1:59 pm
hence a mainstreamer
November 26, 2023 @ 6:14 am
Dolly is an icon. She is about the most humble, honest, and optimistic, spiritual person . In the same sense she has always were the haur high, dressed sexy, she did not apologize for anything nor should she. God bless her. I hope she enjoys sliding down some but not to just stay at home but to do everything she might have wanted to do but didn’t have time with her long career. She definitely is a blessing from up above.
November 25, 2023 @ 6:59 pm
Queen Dolly! Obviously you didn’t read or see the polls and comments on Facebook! You are CLEARLY in the minority! Psh…whatever dude! LOL!
November 26, 2023 @ 4:16 pm
That was a terrible performance! I couldn’t watch! Did she actually move?
November 25, 2023 @ 9:40 pm
Great show, Dolly is America’s First Lady
November 26, 2023 @ 9:41 am
It’s Cringy when a reporter picks out all the flaws of someone that’s 77 doing things no other 77 year old is doing or can do, then spends 3 paragraphs of how none of that matters because she’s a legend and icon. Her main fan base is the 45-90 year old country music fans. They don’t care. This article had to of been written by a Swifty.
November 26, 2023 @ 9:45 am
“This article had to of been written by a Swifty.”
The wild-eyed assumptions about the author and this article are quite rich. But this one really takes the prize.
November 26, 2023 @ 3:11 pm
Own it, Trig! You’re a Swifty! We’ve known it for years! ????
November 25, 2023 @ 7:19 am
That joke is old news
November 25, 2023 @ 7:41 am
Oh please…we should all hope to be as healthy as Dolly and Cher when we are 77. Long and unnecessary way to go to make a dig at the Cowboys.
November 26, 2023 @ 11:26 am
Osbert equals ignorance. It’s one thing to be religious it’s another to be spiritual. Being kind and charitable is love. Being biggoty is mental illness. Being spiritual is of God and God is Love. Sign up for Love because that’s the greatest amongst all!!
November 25, 2023 @ 9:48 am
Wow Dolly always looking so fine God bless u ,for the years you been doing ,entertaining the world ,u r so blessed and beautiful ,I would love to meet u ,HI I am Ron I am 67 I am a Christian man, may God’s face shine on u,thank u for all of you loving kindness in the world, give God all the glory.i thank God for your beautiful life in Jesus mighty name amen
November 25, 2023 @ 2:01 pm
hence a mainstreamer
It’s not a dating interview Ron
Religion is a mental illness
November 25, 2023 @ 7:37 pm
Well Osbert, you can be sure your mental illness will be served in Hell. Alone, in pain, anguished will no relief for all of eternity. Unless of course, you might repent of your ignorance and beg the Lamb of God not to destroy your soul and body in Hell.
November 25, 2023 @ 8:02 pm
You were spot on for letting a clearly “out there” Ron know that this wasnt Dolly’s dating app profile but your last statement was dead wrong. Religion is most certainly not a mental illness. If you truly believe that then I feel bad for you and will pray for you.
November 25, 2023 @ 8:10 pm
Religion is a mental illness.
You can waste all the time you want giving money to people that can’t find jobs but will rape your children while in their care
Not something I’d sign up for.
Grow up.
November 25, 2023 @ 8:14 pm
No more comments on this thread. Please remember this is a country music website.
November 26, 2023 @ 6:32 am
That was rude Osbert !! But your Opinion!! Have a Blessed day ❤️
November 26, 2023 @ 6:33 am
Regarding your comment about religion as a mental illness. You do realize you are assigning mental illness to millions upon millions of People, living in history and the present. The Bible is the top selling book of all time. Actually, it’s a compilation of books.
I think the ‘mental illness’ statement comes from somebody who is very wounded. Which is pretty much is part of the definition of people with mental illness.
I pray that you will find True peace and fulfillment in your inner being; your heart your soul.
November 26, 2023 @ 10:08 pm
You can always tell if someone is an atheist or a vegan. Because they always bring it up.
November 27, 2023 @ 9:06 am
You can always tell if someone is a Christian or a vegan. Because they always bring it up.
November 25, 2023 @ 10:57 am
Omar, some people (especially Dolly) transcend age. Her honesty, great sense of humor, incredible humility, talent, kindness and generosity are a gift to us all. She is a national treasure….please be as kind to her as she is to others! ????
November 25, 2023 @ 11:31 am
Not as embarrassing as not knowing the appropriate spelling of the word “to”.
November 25, 2023 @ 6:44 pm
If you can’t say any thing nice Be Quit
November 26, 2023 @ 7:19 am
I was amazed at Dolly and thought it was really great and she was having a good time with it and enjoying it it will be a memorable moment for her and for all that love her so you go girl do the things that you have never gotten to do and that you want to do while you can and enjoy every moment of it
November 25, 2023 @ 6:47 pm
Not accurate – Dolly Parton has created significantly more relevance that the Dallas Cowboys over the same period.
Try again.
November 25, 2023 @ 6:56 pm
You’re an idiot. Would like to see you at 77
May 25, 2024 @ 3:23 pm
I’ve seen people a lot older than Dolly Parton doing gymnastics, mountaineering, running in marathons, and other pretty vigorous activities. 77 is old yeah .. but not THAT old.
November 26, 2023 @ 5:56 am
Maybe you are too old or simply too biased to offer an honest critique. At least Dolly was covered unlike some of the female yellers who appear on stage as close to nude as possible.
November 26, 2023 @ 10:03 am
I’m only 58, I couldn’t of done it. she inspires so many people, it’s always been a dream of mine to meet her, she loves people children, keep it up Dolly she’s a hero, an amazing singer, easy to go, everyone needs to remember she is 77 years young
November 26, 2023 @ 11:44 am
AMEN to that! Sorry, but I’d rather see Dolly in that outfit than Lizzo, a Kardashian, or any one of those cringe-worthy TikTok people who have their boobs and labias hanging out for everyone to see! Dolly is a class act all the way!!!
November 26, 2023 @ 10:07 pm
TeacherMom,
Dolly was wearing an outfit known for sex appeal.
I don’t want to see Lizzo, period. But let’s not act like wearing the Cowboys cheerleader outfit equals a class act.
November 26, 2023 @ 1:04 pm
They kicked the Commander’s Ass!!!!
November 26, 2023 @ 3:44 pm
This is to all the little punks that have had everything handed to them. Well, I am handing you your ass. You wouldn’t have a revelation about the real world if it hit you in the face. Dolly is a person to be admired. She made her way and forged a way for all the other women singers in all types of music we enjoy today. With all your little protesting in the states, you might try finding the truth. As a person that is an activist for the marginalized try seeing the best in others. Get off your high horse and help another human being.
November 26, 2023 @ 5:08 pm
Always has to be one jerk in the crowd. Too bad your parents never taught you if you don’t have anything nice to say, keep your damn mouth shut! Must be an Eaglet fan
November 26, 2023 @ 5:34 pm
It’s obvious that you have no idea who Dolly is, what she’s done in her long successful life. Singing, song writing, guitar playing, acting and all of her many charitable acts. I’m sure you only wrote this so you could become relevant even if for a second or 2.
November 26, 2023 @ 9:52 pm
I am a Tennessean. Dolly is Our treasure, but she belongs to the world. If the only thing that she has done for America is to make sure that every single child gets a book until age 5 but that is Just One loving thing. People pay attention
November 26, 2023 @ 5:47 pm
Let’s see you do it after you’re seventy wait who are you anyway
November 26, 2023 @ 7:07 pm
I though she was gonna fall down and break something ????
November 26, 2023 @ 8:21 pm
You need to show Dolly the respect she deserves
I don’t care what she did on stage!
November 27, 2023 @ 11:06 pm
All
You haters out there, leave her alone. She did a much better performance than most 1/2 time shows, including the superbowl. Plus she looked great. I’d wear the same thing, if I looked like her, and I’m 79. Keep rocking, Dolly
November 25, 2023 @ 1:57 pm
Wow! A lot of self righteous self absorbed people. Picking apart a performance by a legend- rude. Give kudos to those who succeed. A brilliant beautiful legend. Respect!
November 25, 2023 @ 5:20 pm
It was Off The Chain Mrs.Dolly You Still Got It,I Loved It All May God Keep on Keeping On Blessings You Love You Always My :Email jab105507@Yahoo Go Head Give It To Anyone The Truth Dolly & Ladies You’re Did Your Thang your Back Ground Professional
November 25, 2023 @ 7:09 pm
Where are the younger crowd smoking crack she’s a icon give her a break she’s not stealing hell she owns half of Tennessee now grow up
November 25, 2023 @ 8:08 pm
Exactly. Its obvious that the halftime shows are music “concert” theater shows. The logistics and sheer volume of scale will dismay any real musicians, and go along with the theater. Realistically the audience is paying for a sport event and not expecting an actual concert. The stage rig required to do a show with 15 minute setup is nonexistent and would be colossal if attempted. She sang, she danced. Shes gone. Well done Dolly.
November 26, 2023 @ 4:49 am
Newsflash Professor: They ALL lipsync at these halftime concerts because there’s not enough time to perfect soundtracks. Country music should wish more of its artists had the class and talent of a Dolly Parton. She was awesome as usual.
Now I’ll let you get back to your Taylor Swift songs. What do they call Swift? The “Autotune Queen”?
November 27, 2023 @ 8:27 pm
Dolly Parton is a True Lady and Wonderful Person
She is also a very generous and grateful Lady ????. She loves ❤️ The Lord Jesus and shows it in everything she does in her life. God bless you Dolly and your whole family and Loved Ones. ????
November 24, 2023 @ 10:53 am
Dolly may have had trouble getting around on that stage because her feet are so incredibly small. After all, nothing grows in the shade.
November 25, 2023 @ 5:30 am
Then she got her implants when she was 9 years old or something?
November 25, 2023 @ 6:39 am
Boooooo. Take the joke dude.
November 26, 2023 @ 2:27 pm
What about the country singers on Ozempic that look horrid
November 25, 2023 @ 8:12 am
Noticed they didn’t move and she’s 77yrs old lol
November 24, 2023 @ 11:18 am
100%,Trig!
November 24, 2023 @ 11:20 am
Iconic performance by an icon.
November 24, 2023 @ 12:17 pm
My wife and I couldn’t understand why she was on the side of the star with minimal space to move instead of on top of it where she would have lots of space and stand out. On a side note, it was awesome to see Cher perform (even if only lip-syncing) at the Thanksgiving Day parade.
November 24, 2023 @ 1:20 pm
She was supposed to come out of the star (you might have noticed there was hole) but the hydraulic malfunctioned. They tried a few times but it just wouldn’t work. So they put her on the side with very little space around the star….
November 25, 2023 @ 9:09 am
never liked her tinny voice
November 26, 2023 @ 7:11 am
God Bless Dolly Parton.
November 26, 2023 @ 11:04 am
Whose? Dolly or Cher? Neither of them has a “tinny” voice!
November 24, 2023 @ 1:17 pm
She’s going down Madonna’s path now…weird plastic surgery in an embarassing attempt to stay relevant. Can’t these people just accept the fact that they’re old amd not fooling anyone?
November 24, 2023 @ 5:43 pm
Ahhhh, that hideous outfit! Why oh WHY would they not have created Dolly a cool custom one-piece or something more flattering? Dressing her like a cheerleader is just super weird.
Also, looking at some wide shots I think Dolly was wearing some sky-high silver heels. I don’t think she was steadying herself, I reckon she was uncomfortable not having a mic or guitar and didn’t know what to do with her hands.
The Queen covers confused me. On the most American of celebrations why covers of a British band?
Thanks for posting this, Trig. I adore Dolly and didn’t know she’d done this performance and would never otherwise have been privy to it 🙂
November 24, 2023 @ 9:52 pm
Because the Queen songs are on her new album Rockstar! It It’s perfect sense that she would send them, as they are some of the best on the album. Plus they are both iconic sports songs, played at stadiums all over the country.
November 25, 2023 @ 5:38 am
Her covering those two songs are an embarrassment to Freddie Mercury.
November 25, 2023 @ 3:50 pm
I thought they were both quite good, and I’m not really Dolly fan. I did listen to most of her new album, Rockstar, it’s actually very good.
November 25, 2023 @ 7:18 am
You seem jealous
November 25, 2023 @ 2:21 pm
No, “Realistic”!
November 24, 2023 @ 9:52 pm
Please do NOT compare Dolly to that disgusting Satanist “Madonna”. Dolly will happily tell you she’s had a LOT of procedures, but they’re incredibly well done, she looks amazing, unlike Madonna who looks, quite frankly, terrifying. The genuine heart of Dolly is more amazing than how good she looks or how her voice and talent have not dimmed. Madonna is not only an embarrassment, she obscenely embodies the darkness of today’s music culture and just won’t stop. Dolly is an icon with a heart of Gold.
November 25, 2023 @ 11:13 am
There is only one Dolly even she admits that she’s a little over the top and that she has hade lots of work done. But she doesn’t have to explain herself to anyone. She can do whatever she wants. The good that she’s done can never be overshadowed by your rude remarks. Dolly is a Dolly. She is an icon. She is respectable. She’s a one-man woman, and she is generous to the fault. I thought it was great. I wish I could look that good at her age,artificial or not who the hell cares?
November 25, 2023 @ 11:15 am
There is only one Dolly even she admits that she’s a little over the top and that she has hade lots of work done. But she doesn’t have to explain herself to anyone. She can do whatever she wants. The good that she’s done can never be overshadowed by your rude remarks. Dolly is a Dolly. She is an icon. She is respectable. She’s a one-man woman, and she is generous to the fault. I thought it was great. I wish I could look that good at her age, artificial or not who the cares?
November 25, 2023 @ 11:50 am
Are you the Sandra. Snider from Covina California that I once knew ???
November 25, 2023 @ 7:13 am
It’s pathetic but I’ve been able to see through her act unlike everyone else that is fooled
November 25, 2023 @ 8:07 am
What do you mean?
We know her performance was lip-synced, and that she’s had plastic surgery. It’s no secret, as she’s talked about it.
So explain exactly what you are “seeing through.”
November 25, 2023 @ 7:32 pm
Of course she’s Had More Plastic COKE Bottle’s Surgeries than Poor Lil “Jet Beat it” Michael Jackson!!!! So it’s obvious that $$$$ Talks, Sings, actress, ect with a message to Save The Monster’s who Came to her Calling on October 7th????????. The Devil Come’s in All type’s of Form’s. Folk’s Please WAKE UP & Dump This “Wokeness”.
November 26, 2023 @ 11:09 am
Umm, wut?
November 27, 2023 @ 7:10 pm
No not lip syncing the whole i want everyone to like me so I won’t have any opinion on nothing to appease everyone
November 25, 2023 @ 11:10 am
Don’t think so. You’re just off. Bless your heart.
November 25, 2023 @ 12:20 pm
Meaning what exactly
November 25, 2023 @ 1:04 pm
you must be either psychic or psycho
November 25, 2023 @ 1:13 pm
Remember, she admits to it all and still laughs all the way to the bank. She’s an American icon. Those who tear her down are jealous. She’s the smartest entertainer out there. And we love her!,
November 25, 2023 @ 8:28 am
I don’t understand she had something in the back of her pants like some kind of maybe temporary implants in inside of her pants so that her butt maybe didn’t look too small but there’s definitely some kind of implants or something going on in the back of her britches
November 25, 2023 @ 10:04 am
She openly admits to her surgeries. Why is no one here or even in the dumb article mentioning te million bucks she just gave to charity for the holidays.? We should all emulate Dollys humanitarian gestures.
November 25, 2023 @ 4:03 pm
Way too much plastic surgery. Be yourself.
November 25, 2023 @ 6:47 pm
She is more relevant than you will ever be, and a lot better human being
November 24, 2023 @ 1:30 pm
To pull off a he outfit alone at 77 is amazing. Great job from DollyParton.
November 25, 2023 @ 6:27 am
Yes would anyone of you have gotten up there and even attempted to perform especially at her age you know she doesn’t need the money she truly loves to perform she has a heart gold and a killer body for her age and does a lot of good things for children and people in need and now she can add shedding light on why there’s so much negatively in the world today Kudos Dolly keep performing if for no other reason is makes you happy.
November 25, 2023 @ 9:06 am
*.
November 24, 2023 @ 1:49 pm
She’s an all-time great, but what I have heard from her latest release sounds almost like a parody of herself. It’s why I don’t listen to any of Willie’s recent stuff. I want to remember them differently.
November 24, 2023 @ 2:23 pm
Willie released a song in 2018 called Cruel World that youre missing out on. When he passes go put it on.
November 24, 2023 @ 3:14 pm
The song “Ride Me Back Home” from 2019 from Willie is really good too. Don’t love the whole album but he still has great moments.
November 24, 2023 @ 6:24 pm
I generally agree but “I’ll love you til the day I die” was another great one from Willie in a couple years ago.
November 24, 2023 @ 7:01 pm
I like Willie’s version of Don’t Let The Old Man In better than Toby’s.
November 25, 2023 @ 2:56 am
This is off-topic, of course – but Willie Nelson’s 2022 album ‘A Beautiful Time’ is excellent: a really wistful and thoughtful piece – and almost a valedictory one. If you haven’t listened to that album for the reason you mention, then I suggest you check it out.
November 25, 2023 @ 11:38 am
How sad for you. Had people done that with JohnnieCash we’d have missed out on his amazing rendition of “Hurt”. Being elderly doesn’t mean you have any less talent, or any less value. It’s just different. I hope your mind opens a little before you reach that age. Or maybe you are that age and are just spewing the poison you’ve been force fed.Either way, your loss I guess
November 27, 2023 @ 6:59 am
Prior to starting the American Records Series, Johnny Cash admitted he was putting out some bad, cliche music and was about to retire. Dolly’s “Rock” album is a caricature of a Rock album, and she probably knows it. She was just having some fun and that’s fine too.
November 24, 2023 @ 1:51 pm
She was suppose to be on the star after coming out of it. It totally malfunction. She was trying to navigate getting around the star, so the whole stadium could see her performance. if you note the performance was delayed. I assume this threw everything off in spite of it she handled it the best she could, and like a total professional.
November 24, 2023 @ 2:19 pm
If an article uses “cringe” in its title in a way that sounds like a twelve-year-old wrote the article, it immediately loses all credibility. Didn’t even read past the title.
November 24, 2023 @ 2:24 pm
Yes, I can tell you didn’t read the article.
That would be like reviewing Dolly’s performance without watching it.
November 24, 2023 @ 4:29 pm
I did see Dolly’s halftime performance yesterday, and it was what one would expect from her: arguably over-the-top and, more contentiously, lip-synced. But whatever myriad difficulties she had, and however many people have problems with her ROCKSTAR album, it was still Dolly at 77, out to prove (successfully, as always) that, as she has said many times, “It costs a lot to look this cheap” (LOL).
November 25, 2023 @ 8:09 am
For what it is worth: It appeared to me that stage lights were reflecting into her eyes off of whatever she was standing upon.
November 24, 2023 @ 2:41 pm
She’s Dolly Parton,enjoy her while you can !!!!!!!
November 24, 2023 @ 2:45 pm
I thought it was great.
I just wish there was a good way of exposing more people to the true depth and breadth of Dolly as a singer/songwriter. And I feel like technology is only making such things harder. Unless Spotify makes a playlist of “Dolly Parton Hidden Gems”, how are people going to discover songs like “Lonely Coming Down”, “Mission Chapel Memories”, “If I Lose My Mind”, etc. I love youtube, but even so I’d be the first to admit it takes a lot of tedious work to try and cultivate libraries/playlists/etc on there.
And for a lot of other older country singers it’s even worse. Forget about deep cuts, try accessing a Webb Pierce or Kitty Wells compilation or greatest hits digitally…was much easier with CDs. And shout out to imports, used to listen to them all the time as a teenager in my pink bedroom (please comment and call me a dork if you see what I did there).
November 25, 2023 @ 9:56 pm
Hey just heads up on Spotify there is plenty of Kitty Wells and Webb Pierce. Super easy to find!
November 25, 2023 @ 10:10 pm
Thanks Winston, that’s encouraging. I’ve tried to make Webb Pierce playlists on YouTube and it’s very piecemeal.
I’ve found when it comes to artists from the 50s-70s it’s highly dependent upon the label. RCA artists definitely seem to come out better in terms of accessibility, although my understanding is that due to digital copyright laws the artists/estates all get screwed.
November 24, 2023 @ 3:07 pm
Dolly being inducted into the Rock Hall was cringe, her lame attempt at rock is cringe, this performance is cringe. Such a sad attempt to be everything to everyone. And just because she’s an icon doesn’t mean she should get a free pass. When Garth Brooks lip synced, people freaked out, which they should have, it’s a joke when artists lip sync.
If you can’t do it live anymore, hang it up. I understand people love Dolly (I still remember her performance of “He’s Alive” on the country music awards decades ago–now that was iconic–and she actually sang), but this is embarrassing. And the plastic surgery is beyond absurd at this point. There’s nothing wrong with aging gracefully.
November 25, 2023 @ 11:51 am
Anonymous gatekeeping is the most cringe. Anonymous because the commenter has no bona fides, no background in music, no experience in music, no education in music, and no performance history.
All such performances are lip-synched, since ever. Most of the rest of us understand what is venue-appropriate. The technical considerations require pre-taping because of the vast number of problems with a live nationwide performance in unpredictable weather, crowd noise, AC power service, sound and lighting production needs, ambient noise, audience inclusion, etc.
For the record, everybody knows who Dolly Parton is (American icon in multiple fields of artistry, business and humanitarianism, but we don’t know who “Jimmy” from the comments section is.
I would wager there is very good reason for that.
November 25, 2023 @ 5:16 pm
Shut the hell up! If you can’t say something nice about Dolly then, keep your mouth shut! All the years she has performed wheather her voice or lip snyc she has spent most of her life away from her family for country music fans to enjoy. Now Rock n Roll? You tell them like it is Dolly! If you don’t like it, turn your head, close your ears. And your mind? You have none!
November 26, 2023 @ 5:48 pm
Grow up Jimmy.If this was a man we would not even be having this conversation. You go Dolly.
November 24, 2023 @ 3:15 pm
I would love to be her for just one day I love her
November 24, 2023 @ 4:01 pm
She has become a caricature of, well, herself.
Say what you want about Kid Rock, but he doesn’t lip sync.
November 25, 2023 @ 3:47 pm
The fact that you compared Kid Rick to Dolly Parton invalidates any comment you make????????
November 24, 2023 @ 4:21 pm
No one wants to see Grandma in a bikini. No matter how much work she had done.
She lip-synched. Garth got rightfully roasted for it. Dolly shouldn’t get a pass.
It was an embarrassing performance from someone with incredible skill.
November 24, 2023 @ 6:34 pm
Dolly Parton was not in a bikini. It was a stage costume and she was showing no skin. The prudish pearl clutchers need to take a deep breath. If you thought the costume was silly, fair enough. But it wasn’t inappropriate.
As for the Garth Brooks analogy, you’re spot on. You can’t call out Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, and others for lip syncing, and then give Dolly Parton a pass just because we love her. My guess is if they had allowed her to speak in between songs live, nobody would have known the difference. At this point, lip syncing was expected.
I appreciate that some Dolly Parton fans don’t want anyone to ever say anything sideways about her. But I don’t understand how anyone who actually reads this article can characterize it as an “attack” on her or somehow disrespecting her. I went out of my way to show Dolly the utmost respect. But if you want me to lie to you about what happened during the performance to affirm your fantasized worldview, you came to the wrong place.
November 24, 2023 @ 7:15 pm
Trigger,
The word bikini was a metaphor. The point is, the outfit didn’t work for someone her age.
Dolly Parton fans are acting like Swift fans. It is OK for others to criticize their deity. Dolly is a legend but that performance did nothing to buttress her legacy.
I didn’t see this article as an attack. If anything, it was too friendly to Dolly.
November 25, 2023 @ 11:49 am
How is the word “bikini” a metaphor for “cheerleader costume”? That’s like saying couch is a metaphor for kitchen chair. I was going to ignore the pathetic ageist comment but then you had to ruin it by using a word you don’t understand to rationalize a mistake. Just let it go.
November 25, 2023 @ 12:07 pm
I agree with you, CK. One of the more noticeable indicators of Western decline is the unwillingness (and therefore effective inability) of women (and men) to age gracefully like previous generations did for thousands of years. It’s embarrassing and frankly uncomfortable to watch. I love Dolly but felt embarrassed on her behalf when she came out dressed like that. Immodesty on younger women is bad enough, but at least it appeals to the eyes.
As usual, Trigger is always willing to debase himself and disregard what morals he may have once had in order to oppose any and all criticisms of women. And unfortunately, because of that reputation, his opinions on these matters have become caricaturized, meaning that there’s seemingly nothing a woman can do that he won’t rationalize a defense for.
November 25, 2023 @ 1:58 pm
???
Apparently you missed all of my recent articles on Maren Morris … or the one criticizing Shania Twain for lip-syncing and not acting her age in concert.
The whole reason this article is going viral is because I’m the only one in American media that had the audacity to say what many, many people were thinking about Dolly Parton’s performance. When Dolly got caught lip syncing at Glastonbury in 2014, it was an international scandal. Now, only one outlet is willing to point out that Dolly lip synced in print. And for this, I am utter vermin. It really speaks how far music media has come. There is no more room of criticism for anything. All that’s left is Stan armies and celebrity worship.
November 24, 2023 @ 7:49 pm
A little classic country history for you from someone who actually was around when most of it was made: Back in the ’70s, Saturday or Sunday morning TV in much of the country featured two taped 30-minute country music shows, “That Good Old Nashville Music” and “Pop Goes the Country.” These shows featured top country stars lip-synching to their hits, not a musician on stage with them or, occasionally, musicians pretending to play unplugged electric instruments. This was accepted by country fans. Nobody was complaining to TV stations or production companies about this practice any more than pop fans were complaining to Dick Clark or ABC about the nno-singing and non-playing going on on “American Bandstand.” Why was this done? Because the intention of these shows was to give the viewer a chance to see their favorites deliver a pitch-perfect, note-perfect take on their current hit songs. If you wanted to see Charley Pride and his road band actually “Kiss an Angel Good Morning,” you’d have to wait until he came to town or played the Opry, and then you’d take the chance that Charley and/or his band were having an off day or Charley was battling a cold, and the performance would be marred by sour notes, forgotten lyrics or botched chords. TV had no reason to risk putting a flawed performance on a recorded weekly show, and neither did the artists. Doing so would damage the artists’ reputation.
Fast forward to Thanksgiving Day and the same justification for Dolly’s performance remains valid. The network wanted to offer as entertaining a performance as possible, and so, I’m sure, was Dolly. The voice everyone heard was Dolly’s, the woman on the stage was Dolly herself. She sang well enough to do an album of 30 rock covers, and that’s more than enough. (And don’t think for a minute that some “studio magic” sweetened her vocals on that. Of course, no one is going to spill the beans.) Did she let the crowd down? No, they were there for a football game.
I struggle to understand some people’s insistence that lip-synching and studio sweetening are venal sins and consumer fraud. They serve their purpose. The real enemy is Auto-Tune in the audio chain as a matter of course on artists’ tours. This casts serious doubt as to whether the performer is even capable of a studio-quality take when faced with a no-safety-net situation like a concert in a music venue.
November 25, 2023 @ 11:13 am
Howard,
I appreciate the history lesson, but what was relevant in music and entertainment 50 years ago is not really what is relevant to today. Instead of lip synced programs such as American Bandstand, now the big entertainment shows on television are American Idol, The Voice, and America’s Got Talent, which are lliteral singing competitions where lip syncing would never be used. This is one of the many reasons many listeners and viewers have fallen out of favor with lip syncing and it has become much less accepted over time.
There is a great New York Times video about when they asked JJ Cale to lip sync that sort of sums up the arc of the practice.
https://youtu.be/YC77rRCgOns?feature=shared
Another thing worth emphasizing is that Dolly Parton was caught lip syncing at Glastonbury in 2014. I wrote about this in my preview of Dolly’s performance, basically predicting that she would lip sync. At that time she said something to the effect of, “My boobs are fake, my hair is fake, and my nails are fake. But my voice is real.” But it was patently obvious to everyone watching that she was miming to a real voice recording of herself.
As for Auto-tune, I 100% agree. There is nothing wrong with fixing an otherwise great vocal performance with an off-pitch note to save the performance. This is why Auto-tune was created. It’s the wholesale adoption of it to hide the flaws of someone who can’t sing that’s problematic.
November 26, 2023 @ 7:56 am
Sorry but your recollection about those syndicated country TV shows is not the same as mine.
MOST of the 1960/70’s syndicated half-hour country music shows from Nashville featured LIVE vocals. NOT lip-synchs. Programs like “Pop Goes The Country” had a “house band” that backed their guest stars. In some cases the guest stars actually brought their road band with them as Dolly Parton did for this 1978 guest appearance on Pop Goes The Country
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1poXIyaoEQ
Several country stars that hosted their own shows like Porter Wagoner, Bill Anderson and The Wilburn Brothers used their road bands as the “house band” on the show to back up themselves and their guests. For some shows the house bands were comprised of Nashville session musicians that played “off camera” and could not be seen during the singing performance. For the record there were a couple dozen of those syndicated country music shows available during the 1960’s & ’70’s.
For a few rare cases I recall guest stars on those shows that lip-synched or sang live to backing tracks from their records. But the reason was that their song contained significant production or orchestration that could not be duplicated live for the show. For example C.W. McCall usually lip-synched his production-heavy song “Convoy.”
Also some of those shows do indeed contain mistakes or errors by the performers. Those low-budget programs did not permit a lot of re-takes so the shows were recorded in real time and unless an error was particularly egregious they just let it slide.
Compared to many other “pop” music programs of that era those syndicated country music shows featured mostly live performances. Dozens & dozens of clips from those shows are available today on YouTube to prove my point.
As for Dolly’s half-time show I have several friends that are Washington Commanders fans. They were just disappointed that Dolly appeared in a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader outfit.
November 26, 2023 @ 1:06 pm
Interesting. It’s been many years, so it’s certainly conceivable that my memory of these shows is faulty. I’ll have to check out some on YT to verify. One live performer I definitely recall from one of those shows was the teenage banjo prodigy Wendy Holcombe, who was amazing. Sadly, she died of a heart defect in her early 20s. Apologies to you and Trig if my old gray cells didn’t quite get ’70s country TV right.
November 27, 2023 @ 7:50 am
saving country music’s resident prude has weighed in on what you should do again with your bodies, lady. can you believe he’s single?!?! act fast, don’t let this one get away!
November 24, 2023 @ 5:27 pm
The author of this article is a negative a-hole.
November 25, 2023 @ 5:41 am
Trigger is definitely negative, but I wouldn’t say asshole. Overall, I like Trigger with the exception of the constant need to pander to special and literal fringe groups of people. If Trigger can leave that nonsense out of most of his writings then he would likely be one of the best writers you could find for this type of news.
But he litters almost every article with pandering. It’s sickening and takes away from the country news when he has to say things out of the blue like “..like black singers…” and “…plenty of amazing LGB singers…” and the like. This pandering adds nothing, polarizes his articles and makes him seem petty and butthurt a lot over racial or sexual orientation issues which either affected his life deeply, in which case he needs to grow past it, or doesn’t affect him at all and he just thinks he needs to CMT-up this site by pandering to try and keep an audience.
Kane Brown sucks and Trigger gets that right, but he can’t mention how bad Kane Brown is without having to pander to attempt to not sound like he is bitter and racist.
@Trigger : If fools and morons label you something, it doesn’t matter what you do… they won’t change that opinion of you. Just wear their labels, ignore their labels and move the heck on.
November 25, 2023 @ 7:48 am
True!
November 25, 2023 @ 10:02 am
Exactly. Dolly entertained and was fun to watch. The reviewer is a prompous ass.
November 24, 2023 @ 6:32 pm
Put Dolly in a rocking chair with a guitar in the middle of the field, dress her age appropriate, surround her with 20 kids and microphones, and have her sing “Coat of Many Colors.” That would have been more iconic (and less cringe) and more suitable for the holiday and cause than that hot mess.
Reba was the first of these Salvation Army Thanksgiving Halftime shows and it still holds up 26 years later.
https://youtu.be/i0jd310HPyY?si=zAXm8nfkZDRsagnP
November 24, 2023 @ 6:55 pm
I love dolly old or not but that old Cowboys cheerleader outfit was a joke
November 25, 2023 @ 9:35 am
I loved her until she decided to insult people who didn’t want an experimental, blood clot forming and heart destroying test “vaccine” forced into their bodies. That wasted and washed-up hag lost all respect from this camp on that day. Before she ever tried to shame people into it, all she had to do was read the VAERS statistics and keep her rotten old foot out of her rotten old mouth.
Shaming people for not wanting to be another “Died Suddenly” headline in the local news? Screw her for that.
Why am I shaming her this way? She saw nothing wrong about shaming people do the best for themselves and just because SHE WANTED people to, like Arnold did when he said “fuck your freedom” over covid, so I do not see any reason to hold back shaming her in return.
Time to walk away from people who are like that. Famous or not. Good memories of them or not. They are now toxic as all hell and have tried to use a position of prominence for force something on people via shaming.
Screw her.
November 25, 2023 @ 10:33 am
Jimmy,
Let’s please not veer into contentious subjects not relevant to the current story like vaccine arguments. I appreciate that you’re passionate about this subject, but this is a music website.
Thanks!
November 26, 2023 @ 7:45 am
Try telling these dum asses that, me and you know better, she had her time it’s over give it up
November 24, 2023 @ 7:02 pm
She’s a performer. Not all stage costumes are staid and mainstream. She is one of the worlds best artists, deal with it.
November 24, 2023 @ 7:17 pm
Well put that all this is designed for the pumpkin spice average American.
The odd thing is, we also know these same people could not tell if a mistake was made in a live performance.
Is it just that the simple minded respond better to the crystal clear squeaky clean sound of a studio recording?
At this point celebrities are no different than Mickey Mouse at Disney. Doesn’t really matter who is wearing the costume. As long as they can wiggle around, the audio is taken care of with recordings,
Will “celebrities” be like many childhood pets, replaced multiple times but just don’t tell the kids.
2040 tours of all your favorite 1970s rock bands, no one will question the fact they’d all be at least 90
What if they all died by the 1990s and it’s all been actors/recreators anyway?
November 24, 2023 @ 7:31 pm
I respect and admire Dolly. However, this feels somewhat like elder abuse to me. Fuck the NFL.
November 24, 2023 @ 7:41 pm
Kinda reminds me of Chers show on a battleship an how she performed in front of her then child on board looking at moms backside. Just saying it was a moment for a geriatric community at the game.
November 24, 2023 @ 7:52 pm
I didn’t enjoy it, but at the same time I can’t think of a single halftime performance at the Superbowl Bowl or anywhere else that I’ve enjoyed. They are all terrible. Just go back to marching bands.
November 24, 2023 @ 9:09 pm
I totally get what you are saying.i felt kind of the same way after hearing and watching the video for “what’s up,” from her new album (Still a fave song from my high school days). It was beautiful and a little cooky at the same time.
November 24, 2023 @ 9:55 pm
If all the 77 year old women that looked half as good as Dolly had a chance to go on stage and be dressed like she was, you would go and do it be honest with yourself you would so leave her alone. She’s a beautiful woman and at 77 she rocked that outfit ,enough said.
November 25, 2023 @ 9:37 am
If you spend as much as she has on plastic tweaking, you would look pretty much the same.
But pull the makeup off of those plastic surgery having 900 year olds and they look ridiculous.
Vanity – a sin.
November 24, 2023 @ 10:31 pm
If Dolly comes out 20 years from now to do a half time show, I’ll be the first in line to watch. She IS a star. She has more talent and character than 90% of these no talent tattooed, multi colored hair, piercing covered losers the networks continue to parade in front of viewers in the name of “entertainment”??? God bless you Dolly!
November 25, 2023 @ 9:39 am
So when she shamed anti-vaxxers, was it Dolly who finally convinced you to go out and get it?
November 25, 2023 @ 7:05 pm
No, I had already gotten my Moderna vaccine, but I did applaud her million dollar donation and her getting the vaccine on video.
November 26, 2023 @ 10:00 pm
Foolish decision.
November 24, 2023 @ 10:42 pm
I like Dolly too but face it she is 77. Her best years in music is behind her. She is going to lip sync. As for that outfit she wore. All I can say is that it looked like she was wearing a diaper.
November 24, 2023 @ 11:33 pm
It doesn’t matter where she was standing or what she was wearing. She is loved and respected by many. It will be a very sad day when we can no longer see Dolly perform. She is a legend for sure and it’s not only for her ability to perform but she is a legend in many ways which also includes the love, kindness and charity she shows to others.
November 24, 2023 @ 11:52 pm
I thought it was great. She is ironic- she looks great, and wants to entertain, and keeping with her persona I would have expected nothing less. She still looks great.
November 25, 2023 @ 7:46 am
You got that right!
November 25, 2023 @ 12:13 am
“But in truth, none of this really matters…”
If that were true, you wouldn’t have filled your last few paragraphs informing us how “cringe” Dolly’s performance was.
At the top, you write, “Is it possible for a performance to feel unquestionably iconic and memorable, and still cringey at the same time? Because that’s how one may feel…”
“How one MAY feel?” Translation: ” This celebrity performance isn’t massively trending as super cringey on any social media platform, but I’m going to pretend that it is.Why? Because.”
Dolly Parton is pretty much the only artist we have in present day America who accepts everyone for who they are at all times. Instead of revealing her personal political beliefs, she publicly prays for blessings for the leaders and members of both parties. Her concerts are the only place in our divided nation where you’ll find drag queens sitting beside MAGA-wearing Trump supporters with both lof them loving the music, the company of the person sitting beside them, and the community found in Dolly’s diverse amd inclusive fan base.
But why focus on Dolly’s unconditional love of others or how her concerts somehow inspire people entrenched in a hateful, divided nation to stop seeing each other’s differences and instead, begin to notice their shared humanity when you can simply write about how Dolly can’t do at 77 what she could do at 27. And top it off with a few paragraphs about how cringey it was for her to lip sync her song, according to no one at all and no topic trending anywhere.
Yeah… In a world obsessed with amateur artistic critiques from non-artists who lack the ability to create the art they are relentlessly trashing, let’s add to the trash pile. For no reason whatsoever.
P. S. Anyone who thinks Dolly wearing the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader outfit was a joke or cringe should be required to put on that outfit and then dance and lip sync on a national televised broadcast to a few hundred thousand people. She looked incredible.
Also, what’s with all the “Dolly should dress age appropriately” stuff? This is Dolly Parton. She fashioned her look from the clothes and ,makeup worn by her hometown “tramp.” As Dolly tells it, she saw that woman in town ome day and asked her mama who that was. When her mama told her that woman “ain’t nothing but trash,” Dolly said, ” Well Mama, I want to be trash!”
Those clothes and that look make Dolly feel beautiful..She fought to dress and appear they way she wanted to throughout her youth. You all dress age appropriately all you like. Dolly is going to dress the way SHE wants to, the way that makes HER feel beautiful., regardless of her age or what anyone else thinks.
November 25, 2023 @ 8:15 am
“” This celebrity performance isn’t massively trending as super cringey on any social media platform, but I’m going to pretend that it is.Why? Because.”
That is absolutely incorrect. There are multiple viral social media posts addressing either Dolly Parton’s stage costume or her lip syncing.
For the record, this article DEFENDS Dolly’s stage outfit.
Dolly Parton lip synced. This is empirically true.
November 26, 2023 @ 6:15 am
The word cringe was a terrible choice of words for someone like Dolly…. No matter what you think!
November 26, 2023 @ 9:30 am
Or maybe it’s a good way to describe the sentiment of a Dolly Parton fan who witness her being shaky on her feet, and lip syncing to a backing track when we know she can sing just fine. It’s very enticing these days to be cynical about anything written in the media, and for good reason. But I am surprised so many people seem to not understand that the baseline for reporting on this situation from a website called “Saving Country Music” isn’t respect for Dolly Parton. There was a LOT of negative sentiment for Dolly Parton’s performance on Thanksgiving. This article defends Dolly Parton and her choices more than it criticizes them. But whether you like it or not, many people found the situation “cringe” for multiple reasons. Could there be a better word? Perhaps. But that was the word I saw being shared. And so instead of avoiding it, I answered it.
November 25, 2023 @ 3:58 pm
Bravo! Dolly is fierce!
Who gets to decide what is appropriate for a 77 year old woman…the 77 year old woman makes that call.
November 25, 2023 @ 1:52 am
I just don’t like to see “Dolly” in the same sentence as “cringe!” Yes, you were fair and balanced. Stage malfunctions and lip syncing are simply not newsworthy. I’m glad that Dolly shone the brightest, throughout her set and in the reviews.
Dolly diehards like me have been quite busy online since halftime yesterday, batting down misconceptions, correcting errors but mainly educating about Dolly. The costume looked odd at first glance. But at the end of the set, she’s out there with b*lls of steel, simply doing what drives her: Entertaining people to make them happy. And she succeeded, wildly! She’s a fearless woman.
That was Dolly’s authentic self. It’s who she was, who she is, and who she will be. On that stage taking a huge risk. And it worked. We are still talking about her, aren’t we?
The world changes, Dolly doesn’t.
Thanks.
Peace Love and Dolly
November 25, 2023 @ 2:51 am
Dolly has always been a unique mix of iconic and cringe. A true living legend.
November 25, 2023 @ 3:28 am
I thought that Dolly Parton look great she was blessed by God to look that great yeah so what about the surgery and stuff like that she’s still look great she gave a good performance and I pray that God bless her leader for a little longer God bless her
November 25, 2023 @ 6:17 am
Past time for old dolly to dissapear
November 25, 2023 @ 7:15 am
DOLLY IS A LEGEND FM. TENNESSEE
& YOU NAY NAYS CAN’T TAKE IT!!
SHE HAS A HEART OF GOLD!
GO SEE FILTHY MADONNA’!!
SHE’LL RETIRE WHEN SHE’S READY
& WILL ALWAYS SING & HV. FANS
WAITING IN LINE! DON’T YOU WISH
YOU COULD BE AS LOVED!!!
I’LL PUT MY MONEY ON HER
ANYTIME!!
November 25, 2023 @ 7:26 am
Seems like a bother over nothing. She looked great and she is just a joy to listen to whatever she is doing. The outfit was a nice touch for the occasion. If it bothers you to see a 77 year old woman do what she has always done, don’t watch. Far as the lip syncing. I assumed she was doing it, I pretty much assume they are done at most shows like this especially a big open field performance on live tv. It just doesn’t matter. Comparing it to Garth brooks performance I’ll say this. Garth did it at a show where they have traditionally done those things live and they are fairly small venues. Plus if for some reason he couldn’t do it, there are other acts there performing. On a side note, whiskey riff highlighted a thanksgiving special she had done back in 1987 which featured her family. I watched it on YouTube, it was really good. Nice seeing her family. I did some research on her far as her family and it was nice learning some things I didn’t know. I like dolly but I’m not a huge enough fan that I know everything about her especially back then. It was called smoky mountain thanksgiving I believe. A good watch for anyone interested. It wasn’t the whole show and the visuals are very dated but still a nice watch.
November 25, 2023 @ 8:05 am
The people wanted to be entertained and Dolly gave a good performance. Did you expect her to wear a Halloween costume along side of the Cowboy Cheerleaders? Get real people.
November 25, 2023 @ 7:35 am
Dolly has always sold sex.
She had to have the biggest implants that money could buy, so she could out teat any other woman.
Had to have the biggest breasts to not so subtly control producers, record label executives, you name it, to come around to her way of thinking in business dealings.
She is now just beginning to see that you can trade on looks for only so long.
Dolly is a fantastic musician. And, it would be nice to see her tone it down, keep it classy.
Hoptown is right.
Concerning Dolly at the Thanksgiving halftime show.
At her age, think she did a nice job.
The blouse portion of the outfit would have been just fine. Pure Dolly.
But it would have been much nicer as a jumpsuit. Leave the blouse as it were, with beautifully tailored bodice and slacks, attached.
November 25, 2023 @ 11:34 pm
I disagree about Dolly selling sex. Her song “The Bargain Store” is arguably pretty suggestive but I feel like any sexiness Dolly ever tried to get across was overshadowed by an image of no threatening cartoonality (a word I just made up)
November 25, 2023 @ 8:09 am
The stage was highly polished, and looked slippery with very little room to move around on-if you saw the shots with the guys playing on the stage; she definitely was wearing high heels and that combo is not a good one for any performer – at any age. So she adjusted; it was very plain to me that the star lying in its side with the recessed platform was where she was supposed to be and there was no time to reset cameras angles shots – rework the staging of the performance at all- she had to be there on that stage and make adjustments in real time. And it’s something which I’m reflecting on as a performer and in life as well. I have no problem with Dolly lip singing; I’ve seen and heard her over the years and recently on tv I know that she is a world class musician and can sing and play well. She is an Icon and responded with integrity when she was nominated and inducted into the RRHOF. She made a rock album in response. For those of you who don’t know; she didn’t ask for the nomination and originally refused it; when she was inducted she embraced it as an opportunity to create something new and came out with a new album. Dolly is an all around Artist; and a great business woman and philanthropist; one doesn’t stop creating and growing just because you get past a certain age; in fact great art has been created by many people in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Our culture is extremely myopic and close minded when it comes to age and sexuality in general and as a culture we discard people very easily; we need to look at why. Dolly is full of Love and Goodwill; we need her energy and Heart. I’m very glad she was out there doing her thing.
November 25, 2023 @ 9:12 am
I did not see the performance, during the game, i watched ot on youtube, it was great. 70 plus years old, looking , hot. Easily. the best halftime performance, in a decade, for that traditional holiday game. Earlier that week, she was at a college football game, arm and arm with peyton manning, her new recording was released, next, finally in front of 90, 000 and millions at home, what a week, and well deserved. Thank you Mrs. Parton, i am so glad to be a fan.
November 25, 2023 @ 9:18 am
I think she lip syncs quite a bit these days, actually. Not just for this performance. It seemed like it the last few times I saw her perform on something she was lip syncing, and that is not in hindsight. I noticed while I was watching those earlier performances.
November 25, 2023 @ 9:31 am
I believe Dolly should have picked an appropriate outfit for her age. She trying to compete with the cheerleaders! She is definitely trying to compete with these girls. She did not look good at all.
November 25, 2023 @ 2:48 pm
You really think she picked her own outfit…doubtful. I didn’t mind it, but I thought it was ill-fitting. Wardrobe could have done better.
November 25, 2023 @ 3:05 pm
I agree. It was actually a disgrace to the iconic uniform. Where were her boots? The uniform was not tailored for her. And all that spandex…eeww.
November 25, 2023 @ 9:50 am
What bothers me about Dolly, whose music I love, is that she has always seemed to prioritize fame and fortune and being internationally liked over cultural preservation and the defense of her own heritage. This performance, and the album that led to it are just the latest example, and par for the course.
What created Dolly™ was the East Tennessee Appalachian culture that she grew up in. Dolly wouldn’t be Dolly™ if not for that. And although she has always given lip service to it, the actions she has taken throughout her career have contributed at best to its diluting, and at worst to its inevitable demise.
For starters, she almost single-handedly turned a major area in East Tennessee into an overpopulated tourist trap. In doing so, she has prevented future generations of East Tennesseans from experiencing the same isolated, beautiful, culturally unique upbringing she had. Which means that never again will someone grow up in that pocket of the United States with the same natural heritage she has. The best anyone from that area can ever do now is to just replicate what used to be, because what now is, is merely a shiny, commercialized, tourist-friendly version of what was.
Sure, an argument can be made that the money brought to the area by tourism is inherently good, but I would argue that if you lose what made the area attractive to tourists in the first place, then you’d have been better off without the money. I recently ventured out that way, having never been east of Nashville within TN (I’ve been to other states in the east), and it saddened me to see that it was nothing more than Branson on steroids.
When Dolly was inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, she should’ve released a statement stating that she was a country girl, and a country singer, and that although she appreciates the gesture, she would not be accepting the award. She should’ve refused to perform during an NFL game unless it was a country performance.
Instead of using her platform to protect what made her who she is, she uses her platform to open her culture up to erasure, allowing the city pop world to hitch its wagon to her. And to be clear, I don’t think she does it with a shred of malice or greed. I think she hasn’t contemplated the long-term consequences of her actions.
Merry Christmas.
November 25, 2023 @ 1:23 pm
Believe me there are still people living out in the hills of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee that that live the kind of life she grew up on though I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Her stuff in pigeonforge doesn’t hurt anything and benefits a lot of people. I’m sure she hasn’t forgotten where she comes from. As far as the rock hall of fame, I don’t think any country artist should be there but that’s just me. Since a lot of people do, she’s as worthy as any.
November 25, 2023 @ 3:03 pm
David, please, I’m begging you, and others who may be tempted to reply in the vein you did, please stop glossing over the primary point to find exceptions to the point, whether you’re replying to me, or anyone else. Nowhere in my comment did I claim that there were zero people living naturally in rural Appalachia. What I said was that thanks to Dolly’s likely well-intended efforts, there is a not insignificant section of East Tennessee where being raised that way naturally, like Dolly was, is no longer possible. Sevierville to Gatlinburg and surrounding areas are an eyesore on what was one of the most beautiful places in America. It’s sad. Once “progress” happens, it’s never undone.
November 25, 2023 @ 4:08 pm
I don’t think I ever would have said this about one of your comments, but you are absolutely right bout the area. Gorgeous natural beauty and far too much crass commercialization. I may be from NY, but the Smokey Mountains are one of my favorite places to visit.
November 25, 2023 @ 10:08 pm
Those places exist just the same as last Vegas or wherever. I’ve been down in that area quite a bit over the last 8 years or so. While pigeonforge and Gatlinburg are tourist traps to a degree if you want to call it a trap, there is plenty of the smoky mountains of yore all around. The Townsend side is quite rustic for the most part. There is plenty of space for all there. I enjoyed the few times I went to those busy places but I also enjoy the Townsend side. And yes I understand you just pointed out the main area but you made it sound like there was no more peaceful area right around there. It’s like someone claiming new York city just ruined the whole area of new York, but if you go up there, you realize that most of the state is pretty wide open and most places even close down around 7 o clock.
November 27, 2023 @ 4:24 pm
King Honky who likes to complain about everything is complaining again, big surprise there. Would you have been happy with no one talking about that part of the country? If not for Dolly, there would be no one talking about it. You can say what you want but saying she hasn’t helped is silly. Jobs and opportunities are important and hard to come by in those parts. I’d much rather see that than history repeated (no jobs, drugs, etc.). We aren’t talking about a pristine land with no problems which you are alluding to.
November 25, 2023 @ 6:14 pm
Honky,
Glad to see you back. I thought you might have been banned.
I do agree. Dolly has stayed relevant by hawking her culture or adopting the cause of the day.
November 25, 2023 @ 10:04 am
Really? Cringy? She’s 77. I thought this article was going to be about something political or politically correct. Just lip syncing and her outfit and if she’s supposed to be on a Star? Here we got a president who trips and falls and doesn’t make any sense when speaking but Dolly is cringy? They were lucky to have her performing at the game. Leave Dolly alone.
November 25, 2023 @ 10:33 am
The only thing cringe is this article being critical and the comments. She’s a legend and y’all are salty as af.
November 25, 2023 @ 10:46 am
The only,,cringe,,is you jealous woman writing this stupid article
November 25, 2023 @ 11:01 am
Are we sure it’s a woman and someone who is jealous writing this article?
November 25, 2023 @ 10:46 am
You know people I’ve heard that God was the only one who sits high enough to judge .
November 25, 2023 @ 12:41 pm
Why do most of the comments defending her have almost the exact same, slightly bad grammar and elementary school comprehension?
November 25, 2023 @ 2:25 pm
Excuse me? Mine did not. But in any event, please be polite.
November 25, 2023 @ 1:03 pm
I liked her performance, but to be truthful I could tell that she was being careful not to fall. As for her outfit I like the top but would have liked her in some sexy slacks instead of skimpy shorts, didn’t carry that off. She is 77 and I worried that she might fall due to lack of space to move around. But she’s Dolly and she has always taken chances and been over the top, that’s why we love “our Dolly”. She’s just trying to stay relevant, but aren’t we all.
November 25, 2023 @ 1:09 pm
Since 1995, her foundation has sent over two million free books to children.
November 25, 2023 @ 1:50 pm
I thought Dolly looked Awesome!
November 25, 2023 @ 2:11 pm
That lady is a national treasure, what more needs to be said. And really the folks that don’t like her are probably just mean in nature anyway. Party on Garth!
November 25, 2023 @ 3:45 pm
My Grandmother said “if you can’t say something nice, it’s best to say nothing at all”. Folk are so bold/rude on social media……saying things that they would not say to someone’s face. The world would be a better place if we spoke of/spoke to/treated everyone like we wanted to be treated.
Party on Dolly…..you’re a Rock Star…..on stage and in life!!!!
November 25, 2023 @ 3:56 pm
When she’s singing, We Are the Champions, she gets to the part when she sings, …”and those mistakes, I’ve made quite a few,” she gestures toward her cheerleader outfit knowing not everyone would approve. I thought that was funny, cool and self-aware.
November 25, 2023 @ 6:29 pm
Thought i was imagining, or misinterpreting, when she did that.
Watched her performance on YouTube Thanksgiving night. When she made that gesture, i laughed out loud, thinking she did not just …
Thought it was great. You have to love her …
Thanks for pointing it out on this article, to people who might not have noticed.
November 25, 2023 @ 4:43 pm
What i want to know is, Who was the Really Hot musician playing guitar, & later, the large drums, during Dolly’s set.
Mercy me, he is pure ????
November 25, 2023 @ 4:49 pm
I love her. She’s Dolly and she’s always going to be flashy. That’s who she is. She’s still very relevant and authentic. She is a great person and humanitarian as well. I wouldn’t expect less from Dolly and those that have anything negative to say shouldn’t have watched and need to move on. It’s quite obvious America loves her.
November 25, 2023 @ 5:00 pm
What an awful story to write…you got some nerve with the crap we see and hear today. Pull this writer and have them critique some of the crap others call music. Wow
November 25, 2023 @ 6:15 pm
I see the Dolly cult found this article.
November 26, 2023 @ 11:40 am
and a whole lot of first timers who don’t really know where they are.
November 25, 2023 @ 6:33 pm
Stop criticizing a national treasure. She is 77 years old and is amazing. Haters, gonna hate.
November 25, 2023 @ 7:54 pm
Cringey is a good way to explain it. I mean I am 63 and I certainly couldn’t do that dance and singing but also I don’t think I would if I could. And I realize she’s a performer but… I didn’t care for it.
November 25, 2023 @ 8:04 pm
Like the Lord said We are not to Judge People. I Love You Dolly Parton
You Did Awesome!!!!! From Your Biggest Knoxville, Tennessee Fan
November 26, 2023 @ 10:01 pm
That is not what Jesus meant at all.
November 27, 2023 @ 7:48 am
“the bible is meant to be taken literally (for the parts i like). no those parts (i don’t like) are metaphors, like bikini.” – christians, ck
November 27, 2023 @ 7:55 am
I requested on a previous thread that we move on from these religious discussions please. Thanks.
November 27, 2023 @ 9:15 am
And then you allowed more comments in that thread… But they were all pro-christian/anti-atheist comments so I guess that’s okay.
November 25, 2023 @ 9:11 pm
Did you even watch the video? In the beginning you can see a glimpse of the heels she was wearing. Oat of what you are reporting comes off as critical jealousy.
Honestly, the only thing making me cringe is your ill informed “reporting.”
Walk a mile in her shoes, then judge.
November 25, 2023 @ 10:43 pm
Newsflash: it was actually Janet Jackson disguised as Dolly at the football game. And lots of y’all are being ridiculous about it.
And may I just repeat what Trig mentioned about Folly being retired from touring…this is possibly her last high profile national performance, and these are the takes y’all going with as “country” fans?!
November 25, 2023 @ 10:48 pm
Ugh, not Folly, Dolly. Indisputably the greatest living female country songwriter (RIP Loretta), who has told us for decades that Connie Smith is one of the greatest singers of all time (heard of her?).
Men would never be shown this level of disrespect.
November 26, 2023 @ 5:18 am
Nah you got it right when you called her Folly.
November 26, 2023 @ 10:03 pm
Garth Brooks has been roasted for lip-syncing.
If he came out in a skimpy outfit, he would be rightfully lit up by social media.
November 28, 2023 @ 3:46 pm
I’m sure just about everything Garth Brooks has ever done musically he’s been roasted for by someone out there.
November 26, 2023 @ 7:10 am
Dolly has always been a beautiful woman and any haters who don’t like how she chooses to perform and dress can go jump in a lake.
Dolly looks great, and at 70 year she looks better than most ladies half her age. She’s a great example for us all on how to live our lives and ignore the negative people that don’t deserve to be acknowledged.
November 26, 2023 @ 8:42 am
Put on some clothes Grandma!!! My gosh!!!
November 26, 2023 @ 8:44 am
So, alot of you are saying that Dolly Parton is to old. Listen pal.. that women as well as many, many old women carry themselves and look a hell of alot better than alot of the younger generations, so stick that in your vapor and smoke it!
November 26, 2023 @ 9:23 am
But didn’t Harlow NOT lip sync?!
November 26, 2023 @ 11:07 am
She was wayyyy tooooo old to entertain any crowds age group. She could barley move. Every few seconds she had to hold on the the stage props because her body just isn’t made to be up and moving like that anymore. I guess it’s a good thing she tried but u can see it in her movements she lacked the energy and ability to be performing.
November 26, 2023 @ 2:23 pm
She’s needs to accept her age and Stop
November 26, 2023 @ 4:15 pm
Wow. Reading all of these comments, especially the religious and political opinions, in a music column discussing music and performance, was humorous and eventually exhausting.
Numerous posts came out swinging to defend Dolly’s 77 year old body – to wear anything she wants, even if it’s a sexually provocative, revealing cheerleader outfit, because she has the right to do it, and yet another sexually provocative, revealing artist, Madonna, was dragged into this conversation that she is not a part of – comments that scorned her as filthy and a satanist.
Satan? LOL. Whatever floats your boat.
I support this article and I support the right and view to say “cringe” – and I understood the angles of the writing. Bravo on a thorough piece.
November 26, 2023 @ 5:15 pm
It’s like one of her songs, I will ALWAYS love her! Dolly might not have come from much but she was determined to make something of herself and she did it in grand fashion but never forgot where she came from. She has done more for education than some public school teachers. I am 76 and only wish I could look half as good as that beautiful lady. I don’t care how big “her girls” are or how much “paint” she wears on her face, that is part and parcel of her being Miss Dolly. She is and always will be the biggest and best female country music star.
November 26, 2023 @ 5:45 pm
To all you nay sayers are jerks that can never appreciate the value she contributed to our country her whole life. She grew up poor rags to riches as they say. She never criticizes anyone and when she has an interview and they try to criticize her she takes it like a lady. She has always been flamboyant big boobs, hair, nails, makeup but that is who Dolly is and she never apologizes for it. So yes she is 77 years old and to me she looks great and she is happy and has stayed married to the same man her whole life. Let’s see any of you at 77 see if any of you can look as good as she does. To Dolly I say you rocked it slowly but it was great.
November 28, 2023 @ 3:31 pm
LOL- Most folks could look good at any age with millions spent on multiple plastic surgeries, liposuction, teeth implants, expensive wigs, tons of make up and God knows what else. The whole thing is sad.
November 26, 2023 @ 6:50 pm
My thoughts:
1. Dolly has a long track record of being kind and generous and deserves respect.
2. It doesn’t matter how old someone is. We all have the right to choose from the opportunities that come our way and do what we can while we still can.
3. Dolly didn’t ask to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but I think her “Rockstar” album is not only a good effort, but also the perfect response to that unexpected and unsolicited induction.
4. Nothing about the performance should incite some of you to post the mean-spirited comments I’m reading.
Be kind, agree to disagree sometimes, let others be themselves, and be thankful for country music.
November 26, 2023 @ 7:56 pm
Three correct one in terms of the issue on them.
November 26, 2023 @ 8:04 pm
I would try & get her pregnant, so she wouldn’t leave me.
November 27, 2023 @ 2:11 pm
No hate to Dolly Parton, but honestly I thought the costume was cringey. For the same reason I’d look away if my grandfather came up to me wearing nothing but short shorts. Not to be age phobic but the point I’m getting at is seeing someone old enough to be my great grandmother in a cheerleader costume was the only cringe part of the perform in my personal opinion. She’s a very talented singer, don’t get me wrong. I’m not hating, I’m just giving my opinion.
November 27, 2023 @ 6:49 pm
Sign me up for Miss Dolly’s Cheerleading Camp. Pigeon Forge or Bust!
November 28, 2023 @ 4:37 am
I love Dolly! How many seventy-seven year old women or men have contributed to music and philanthropy as much as Dolly? She’s awesome!
November 28, 2023 @ 6:20 pm
I think “Muleskinner Blues” woulda been plenty loud and defiant enough for that big stadium situation.
November 29, 2023 @ 9:33 pm
I’ve listened to Dolly since I was around 5 years old. Before that I was a KISS addict. But Dolly’s different voice and her writing is what got me. I give Miss Parton a lot of kudos for wearing an outfit like that at 77 and actually pulling it off. Shit if I was a woman and I’m 51 now I wouldn’t even try wearing something like that. And also remember when the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame wanted to induct her she wasn’t going to accept it. But they kept on her and on her til she accepted. That’s why she did the the ROCK album. To me Dolly will always be at the forefront of the entertainment business. Why? Cause she knows how to reinvent herself every 2 to 4 years. She’s not stupid…just remember her first hit “Dumb Blonde”…..she sang just because I’m blonde don’t think I’m dumb cause dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool. And being worth over $600,000,000 proves it. Keep on going Miss Dolly!!!!!!!!!!!