Dolly Parton, 77, Faces Ageism Backlash Over Cheerleading Outfit & Many Defend Her

Dolly Parton stole the show, confidently strutting in the famous star-studded white vest and shorts, a costume synonymous with the much younger Cowboy cheerleaders who joined her on stage. 

Despite being more than twice their age, Parton's bold fashion statement garnered applause from many viewers who admired her confidence and defiance of societal expectations for women her age. On TikTok, one user exclaimed, “To be her age and look that damn good, you go girl.” On the other hand, many suggested that her attire was inappropriate.

In the eyes of fashion experts, Parton, alongside other older celebrities, serves as a style trailblazer. Taking frequent stylistic risks that challenge conventional norms, they embody a lesson for people of all ages – that fashion knows no boundaries and embracing individuality can be a timeless trend.

Negative comments flooded social media, with some expressing disappointment in Dolly Parton's choice of attire, stating, “I loved her for decades and now I'm just so disgusted and disappointed with her..,” “Dolly Parton should not be dressing like this” and “Nobody wants to see a 95-year-old granny dressed like that even if you're worth $650 million.”

According to Vicki Larson, author of the 2022 book Not Too Old for That: How Women Are Changing the Story of Aging, this reaction reflects a broader societal attitude. Many people, Larson notes, prefer women beyond a specific age to conform to traditional expectations, expecting them to “stay in their lane” and adopt a more conservative look reminiscent of sweet grandmothers. 

She emphasizes the importance of recognizing that everyone, including themselves or their partners, may one day reach that age and wish to embrace that part of their identity.

Comedian Chelsea Handler posted a video to express her admiration for Dolly Parton, saying, “I was just dreaming about one day being half the woman Dolly Parton.” 

She also raised her voice to defend the singer, expressing, “Dolly Parton is an American treasure. And the fact that she is on that stage at all is a gift to everyone who sees her. In fact, saying anything negative about Dolly Parton is anti-American, quite frankly. There are two people in this country that no one is allowed to talk s*** about, and their names are Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton.”

During The View's lively “Hot Topics” segment, host Whoopi Goldberg dived into the discussion about Dolly Parton's recent fashion choices. The iconic cheerleading outfit made waves, and Whoopi didn't shy away from exploring the buzz surrounding it. 

Goldberg said, “Seventy-seven-year-old superstar Dolly Parton stole the show on Thanksgiving at the Cowboys-Commanders game dressed as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, but some critics told her to act her age,... Bite me!” She added, “Everybody that participated in this, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

Model Christie Brinkley was moved to tell Dolly haters to "sit down": "You should know you can't define an icon like Dolly Parton by a number!"

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