Federalist writer regrets saying Dolly Parton had a false gospel

Dolly Parton’s fans defended the country music icon after an essay on the Federalist conservative news site attacked her faith. The essay targeted the 78-year-old “Jolene” singer for her support of the LGBTQ community earlier this week.

The headline, “There’s Nothing Loving About Dolly Parton’s False Gospel,” caught many people off guard. Consequently, supporters flooded social media with critical messages about the essay. In response to the backlash, the writer expressed regret for using such a beloved figure to make her point.

Federalist writer Ericka Andersen criticized Parton for her nonjudgmental approach to life. Specifically, Andersen took issue with Parton’s claim that she loves everyone, including members of the LGBTQ community. Furthermore, Parton has shown support for these communities in interviews.

Additionally, Andersen argued that if Parton is a Christian, as she proclaims, she should call out homosexuality as a sin. Andersen stated, “Parton’s version of love, which includes condoning immoral sexual behavior (‘be who you are,’ she’s said), is unaligned with God’s vision for humanity.”

Moreover, Andersen told Yahoo Entertainment on Saturday that the widespread backlash made her realize she shouldn’t have used Parton to press her argument.

“I regret using Dolly as the example for the point I was making in the article,” she said. “As I wrote in the piece, I love her and think she does some incredible things for the world. We all make poor choices in how to frame things sometimes. This was one of those moments for me! Dolly is one of the few people who is beloved by all and who loves all. The world is lucky to have her.”