PODCAST: Dolly Parton for president?

Americans may not agree on much right now – but they’re certainly all on the same page when it comes to the multi-talented Dolly Parton …
March 23, 2026
1 min read

Robyn Curnow owns a T-shirt that says: Dolly for President. Make Country Music Great Again.

Every time she wears it to the gym in Atlanta, she gets smiles – old, young, liberal, conservative, gym bros, church ladies.

In fact, she knows two people who actually voted for Dolly Parton in the last election.

  • In a country that agrees on almost nothing … Dolly Parton is the exception
  • A country star who somehow transcends politics
  • Beloved by the right and quietly embraced by the left
  • A masterclass in influence without division

So what does Dolly understand about America that everyone else has missed? Listen or read more here.

Robyn Curnow’s podcast, “Searching for America”, examines the US from her outsider perspective – as a South African living in the American South. 

You can also watch the podcast on YouTube and sign up for her free weekly newsletter or Substack here.

Top image: Rawpixel/Currency collage.

Sign up to Currency’s weekly newsletters to receive your own bulletin of weekday news and weekend treats. Register here

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Robyn Curnow

Robyn Curnow is an award-winning broadcaster, foreign correspondent, and speaker with over two decades at CNN.

Latest from Opinion

Don't Miss