You know when you’re flying into Nashville at night and the lights of the city look like jewels sparkling on black velvet? How Nashville looks as decked out in rhinestones as any country star ever has been? How fitting it is that our city should sparkle?
I’m not surprised that there is consensus that we should rename the Nashville airport for Dolly Parton. She deserves the honor and it is the one thing in town that we have that is big enough, bright enough and busy enough to properly memorialize her.
And honestly it feels good to agree with Tennesseans across the political spectrum — not just on the honoring of a Tennessee legend, but how to do it. It’s nice to share reality again, even if briefly, with folks on the right. Yes, I’m waving a greeting to you all with one finger, but I am waving a greeting.
Here’s the thing, though: Why are Republicans mourning the passing of Dolly Parton as hard as the rest of us? She loved gay people. She loved trans people. She supported people, even if she didn’t exactly understand them (a la Eminem) because she recognized our common humanity. She gave money away to people who “didn’t deserve it” because they were suffering. She gave books away to kids who didn’t earn those books through any action but being born. She wrote songs about how tough it can be to be a woman in this world. She held all these positions Republicans hate and yet, Republicans are also sad about her death.
Mayor, governor weigh in on memorializing Tennessee icon with airport rename while plane promoting petition flies over the Capitol
Shoot, if you can hold any political positions you want and still be beloved by conservatives just because you have a quick wit, big tits and a contagious smile, then I guess I need to start smiling at more Republicans.
But, yeah, it’s fun to be in the company of someone who is curious about everybody and who wants to make people feel supported. It’s lovely to be in the orbit of someone who cares. It’s great when you’re struggling and someone helps.
Dolly Parton was popular. The things she did were popular, even here in a red state like Tennessee. Over the next few weeks, I’m sure we’re going to hear all about how Dolly was apolitical or how she transcended politics. But you can’t openly love gay people, support trans people and express solidarity with drag queens in Tennessee, where politicians sling lies and slander about those same communities, and not have it be political. You can’t provide a free education to any kid whose parents want it for the first five years of their lives in Tennessee, where politicians are undermining public schools, and not have it be political. When you’re the one people know they can count on for disaster relief, seen as more reliable than the state or federal government in Tennessee, that’s political.
And those things are why people liked her!
This is why I’ll never be convinced by the people who say that Tennessee is a conservative state. I don’t think it’s hypocrisy that has conservative Tennesseans loving Dolly Parton. I think it’s them showing their true colors, perhaps their true coat of many colors, without meaning to.
