Dolly Parton joked that in another life, she would have “definitely” been a drag queen.
During an appearance on WWNO’s American Routes in 2000, Parton discussed girl power in the country music industry.
She explained that growing up, she learned how to “be” and “deal with men.”
“Well, it’s always served me well being a girl,” she said. “I guess I always knew how to talk to men, how to be with men, how to deal with men because I have my father, and I have six brothers, so I know the true nature of men, and I’m not afraid of them, and I’m very secure in who I am.
Parton also said she feels “real good” when women and especially young girls tell her she’s been an “inspiration” to them. She noted that collaborations with other “wonderful women”, including Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Emmy Lou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt, have been some of the joys of her career.
“And so, I’m glad to be a girl,” she explained, saying that she’s “always said it’s a good thing because the way I look, if I hadn’t been a girl, I would’ve definitely been a drag queen!”
Parton once revealed her hypothetical drag name of choice during a 2014 conversation with Pride Source.
She recalled how she once entered a competition for Dolly Parton lookalikes, only to lose.
“Really do some paddin’!” said Parton, providing tips on how to achieve a likeness of her famous bosom.
Her drag name stemmed from this: “P. Titty … like P. Diddy!”
Parton has received multiple invitations to act as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Longtime judge Michelle Visage explained that the country music star has been offered a spot on the show every year for over a decade.
Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts have meant that this has yet to become a reality. Instead, she has briefly appeared on the show and its spin-off, RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race.