Lauren Boebert's Dolly Parton Tribute Sparks Backlash

Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert's tribute to Dolly Parton on Thanksgiving has been criticized by social-media users, who wrote that the country singer has long rejected any celebration of her work by the Republican Party.

On November 23, Boebert tagged Parton in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, "Yass queen," after the singer's spectacular halftime performance at Thursday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders. Newsweek contacted Boebert for comment by email on Saturday.

The expression "yas queen", now common with Generation Z, originated in the 1980s among the queer, Black community taking part in the U.S. ball culture, where queer performers—often drag queens—compete for "walks" and dances.

On Thursday, Parton sang some of her classic hits, including "Jolene" and "9 to 5", while wearing a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader costume. She also donated $1 million to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, according to CBS Sports. Parton released a new album, Rockstar, on November 17.

While many were praising the 77-year-old singer for her performance, Boebert's comment stuck out to some users. They mocked the MAGA Republican for ignoring the fact that Parton isn't exactly the biggest fan of the GOP and its recent politics targeting illegal migrants and the trans community.

"I don't think that Lauren Boebert knows that Dolly Parton highly dislikes her," one user wrote.

"'Dolly Parton turned down the presidential medal of freedom twice from Trump'," another posted, citing an article by the U.K. newspaper The Guardian about the singer. "Dear Republicans, Dolly Parton will never be your Queen," she added.

While many on social media wrote that Parton might be a Democrat, the country singer has always said she doesn't want to get her music mixed up with politics. Parton turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice after it was offered by Donald Trump, once because her husband was ill and the other time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview with NBC's Today in 2021, Parton said she wasn't sure she would accept the U.S. highest civilian honor from Joe Biden either, because that might appear like a political choice. She has also criticized cancel culture.

But while Parton has always shied away from talking about her own politics, her support for causes like the COVID-19 vaccines and trans and LGBTQ+ rights appear to put her in contrast with Boebert.

In 2020, Parton donated $1 million to support vaccine research, which eventually backed the development of the Moderna vaccine. During the pandemic, Boebert sponsored four bills to end the COVID-19-related mask mandates.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month, the Tennessee-born singer also spoke out in support of the trans community, which has been targeted by a state's bill banning gender-affirming care for minors.

"I just want everybody to be treated good," Parton said. "I try not to get into the politics of everything. I try to get into the human element of it. I have some of everybody in my own immediate family and in my circle of employees. I've got transgender people. I've got gays. I've got lesbians. I've got drunks. I've got drug addicts—all within my own family. I know and love them all, and I do not judge."

Boebert has repeatedly targeted the trans community during her time in office, deliberating misgendering a U.S. veteran during a House debate in September and accusing both trans people and drag queens of grooming and sexualizing children.