BREAKING NEWS: Dolly Parton announces her refusal to celebrate Pride Month in June — she says “WOKE” doesn’t deserve to be commemorated…

In a stunning and unexpected turn, country music icon Dolly Parton has ignited controversy after announcing she will no longer publicly celebrate Pride Month, declaring in a brief but pointed statement that the modern movement has become “too WOKE to recognize.”

Speaking during a surprise appearance at a Nashville press conference promoting her upcoming memoir, Dolly shocked attendees by addressing a reporter’s question about her long-standing support for the LGBTQ+ community with an answer that quickly veered into unexpected territory.

“I’ve always loved everyone — I believe in kindness and being good to people,” she began. “But lately, this whole WOKE culture… it’s gotten out of hand. Pride used to be about love and acceptance. Now it’s politics, pressure, and performative noise. I can’t stand behind something that’s lost its heart.”

The 78-year-old singer, long seen as a beloved ally of the LGBTQ+ community, has participated in countless Pride-related events, donated to LGBTQ+ organizations, and even once said “If you’re not gay-friendly, you’re not Dolly-friendly.” So the reversal sent a shockwave through her fanbase, with many unsure if they were witnessing a change of heart — or a deeper personal stand against what she sees as the cultural shifts of recent years.

Dolly continued:

“I’m not gonna put rainbows all over my brand just to please a trend. WOKE doesn’t equal progress, not always. Sometimes it just means you’re too scared to say what you really feel. And I ain’t ever been scared of that.”

The reaction was immediate and fierce. Social media platforms exploded with debate, with #DollyDisappoints and #PrideWithoutDolly trending on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Longtime fans expressed heartbreak, with one viral post reading:

“I came out to Dolly Parton songs. Now I feel like she just turned her back on us.”

Others defended her, arguing that Dolly has always supported equality but was now taking issue with modern political movements, not people.

“Let’s not cancel a woman who’s given more to LGBTQ+ folks than most pop stars combined,” one fan commented. “She’s talking about WOKE culture, not the community.”

Still, prominent LGBTQ+ organizations have spoken out. GLAAD released a formal statement just hours after her comments:

“Dolly Parton has been a symbol of love and unity for decades, but these words risk alienating the very people who once saw her as a safe space. Criticizing Pride Month during a time of rising anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric sends a dangerous signal — intentional or not.”

Sources close to Dolly claim she had been increasingly uncomfortable with the commercialization and politicization of Pride Month in recent years. One insider shared:

“She’s old-school. She still believes in equality, but she hates the pressure to perform it, brand it, or politicize it. To her, love doesn’t need hashtags or merch lines.”

Still, critics argue that by using the term “WOKE” dismissively, Dolly has now aligned herself — intentionally or not — with the growing chorus of celebrities and political figures pushing anti-LGBTQ+ narratives under the banner of “anti-wokeness.”

Meanwhile, country artists like Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile, and Maren Morris have voiced concern, with Musgraves tweeting simply:

“Respectfully, Dolly — Pride is still about love. Please don’t forget that.”

Despite the backlash, Dolly appeared unshaken. In a follow-up post on her official website, she clarified:

“I will always love my LGBTQ+ fans. Always. But I don’t support being told what to do, what to say, or who to wear rainbows for. My heart is open, but my voice is my own.”

As the fallout continues, the situation poses a deeper question for fans and public figures alike: Can someone be an ally without conforming to the public rituals of activism? Or does silence — or rejection of symbolic support — speak louder than intentions?

Whether this moment marks a pivot in Dolly’s legacy, or a brief clash between generations and ideologies, one thing is clear — the conversation about “wokeness,” authenticity, and Pride has just become more complicated than ever.