At a time when no American celebrity seems immune from the country’s many divisions, Dolly Parton was a crossover icon who stayed neutral in the culture wars while still speaking her mind.
Her style was adopted by the LGBTQ community and is celebrated in drag shows.
She starred in a feminist comedy.
She talked about her deep faith and lent her name to a wholesome family-friendly theme park in her home state of Tennessee.
She did all of this without seeming to offend anyone. Country music fans, pop music fans, Republicans, Democrats, presidents, faith leaders and drag queens all genuinely mourned her passing Tuesday.
