A recent poll by the University of Massachusetts and YouGov has revealed that Dolly Parton is the most favourably viewed global figure among Americans, with a net favourability rating of 65%. The 11-time Grammy winner and philanthropist far outpaced former US President Barack Obama, who came second with 14%, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had 12%.
The survey of 1,000 people, conducted ahead of April, found that 70% of respondents had a favourable impression of Parton, while only 5% viewed her unfavourably. Obama received 50% favourable and 36% unfavourable ratings, while Zelenskyy scored 35% favourable and 22% unfavourable. Parton and Obama were the only figures with at least 50% favourable opinions.
Other US presidents in the poll included George W. Bush (5% net favourability), Donald Trump (-18%), and Joe Biden (-19%). Taylor Swift, another Grammy-winning musician, had a net positivity of 3%. At the opposite end, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a net favourability of -65%.
Parton's apolitical stance may contribute to her popularity. In a 2017 interview, she stated, 'I don't do politics... I've got as many Republican fans as Democrats, and I don't want to make any of them mad at me, so I don't play politics.' Her extensive philanthropy, including the Imagination Library which has donated over 270 million books, a $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for Covid-19 vaccine research, and $12 million for Tennessee wildfire victims, has also earned her widespread admiration.
