Barbara Walters is facing renewed criticism after a controversial 1977 interview with Dolly Parton resurfaced following the country legend’s death at age 80. During the ABC News segment, Walters questioned Parton about her rural upbringing, appearance, marriage, and whether the public considered her a “joke.” Decades later, viewers are praising Parton for calmly taking control of the uncomfortable exchange.
The interview began attracting attention again shortly after Parton’s death was announced on Tuesday. At one point, Walters asked Parton about growing up in a log cabin in rural Tennessee. “Dolly, where I come from, would I have called you a hillbilly?” the journalist asked. “When I think of hillbillies, am I thinking of your kind of people?”
The exchange struck many present-day viewers as dismissive of Parton’s background, particularly because Walters appeared to frame the singer’s upbringing as something unusual or difficult to understand.
Parton grew up as one of 12 children in a family that had little money, but she frequently celebrated her childhood and Appalachian roots throughout her career. Rather than distancing herself from that history, she transformed it into songs, films, and charitable projects that became central to her public identity.
Journalist Turned Her Attention To The Singer’s Body
Walters then moved from Parton’s upbringing to her physical appearance. “Dolly, did you look like this when you were a kid?” she asked, gesturing toward Parton’s chest. “When you were 11, 12, 13, was there this about you?”
Walters also asked Parton to stand and display her “curves” for the camera. “You don’t have to look like this. You’re very beautiful. You don’t have to wear the blonde wigs, you don’t have to wear the extreme clothes,” Walters told her.
Parton explained that her exaggerated appearance was not an attempt to follow conventional fashion. She emphasized that she “was real where it counts, on the inside” and described show business as “a money-making joke.”
Her comments made it clear that the wigs, makeup and clothing were deliberate parts of a persona she fully understood and controlled.
Dolly Parton Shut Down The Suggestion She Was A ‘Joke’
Walters continued pressing Parton about whether audiences took her seriously. “But do you ever feel that you’re a joke? That people make fun of you?” she asked.
Parton responded without appearing rattled. “Oh, I know they make fun of me, but actually, all these years, the people have thought that the joke was on me, but it’s actually been on the public,” the singer said.
Parton then explained that her appearance was a conscious business and creative decision rather than evidence that she lacked self-awareness. “I know exactly what I’m doing, and I can change it at any time. I make more jokes about myself than anybody because I’m sure of myself as a person. I am sure of my talent, and I’m sure of my love for life. I’m very content. I like the kind of person that I am.”
The response has become the defining moment of the resurfaced interview, with fans arguing that Parton displayed greater composure than the person questioning her.
Fans Slam The Resurfaced Interview
Social media users criticized Walters’ tone while praising Parton’s ability to defend herself without becoming confrontational. “Barbara thought she was talking to a hillbilly, but in reality Dolly was so much more intelligent than her, not only in IQ but wit and manners, as perfectly displayed here,” one viewer wrote.
Another person described the segment as a favorite example of Parton turning an uncomfortable interview in her favor. “Footage of that time Dolly Parton wrecked Barbara Walters for asking gross and inappropriate questions. Easily one of my favorite interviews of all time. Always a class act.”
Walters died in December 2022 at age 93.
Dolly Parton’s Sister Celebrated Their ‘Farm Girl’ Upbringing
The criticism of Walters’ “hillbilly” questions comes as Parton’s sister, Stella Parton, has shared a far more affectionate reflection on their rural childhood. Stella broke her silence following Dolly’s death in an Instagram post on August 27. She recalled how the sisters continued following the early-morning habits they developed while growing up together.
“Being little farm girls, we continued to be early risers. As she liked to say, ‘Shoot Tedda, we get more work done before the sun comes up than most folks do all day long!’ We would catch up on gossip, as sisters do, and drink coffee and make plans, as it has always been our way.”
Stella revealed that she and Dolly frequently shared coffee over the phone before sunrise on Tuesdays, making the day of the singer’s death especially meaningful.
Country Legend Died At Age 80
Parton’s death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security. The singer had been admitted to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
She died Tuesday morning at age 80.
