Dolly Parton Dominates US Favorability Poll with 65% Net Rating
In a striking testament to her enduring appeal, country music icon Dolly Parton has emerged as the most favored global figure among Americans, according to a recent poll. The survey, conducted by the University of Massachusetts and market research firm YouGov in early April, placed Parton at the top with a net favorability of 65%, leaving former President Barack Obama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy trailing significantly.
Poll Results Show Parton's Overwhelming Popularity
The poll, which assessed the opinions of 1,000 Americans on over 20 international luminaries, found that 70% of respondents held a favorable impression of Parton, while only 5% viewed her unfavorably. This resulted in her commanding net favorability of 65%, more than 50 percentage points ahead of her closest competitors. Barack Obama, who served as U.S. president from 2009 to 2017, secured the second-highest net favorability at 14%, with 50% favorability and 36% unfavorability.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine who has been leading his country's defense against Russian invasion since February 2022, rounded out the top three with a net favorability of 12%. He achieved this with 35% favorability and 22% unfavorability among those surveyed. Notably, Parton and Obama were the only figures in the poll to receive favorable opinions from at least half of the respondents.
Other Notable Figures in the Poll
The poll also included other prominent U.S. presidents and public figures. George W. Bush ended with a net favorability of 5%, while Donald Trump and Joe Biden recorded negative net favorabilities of -18% and -19%, respectively. Taylor Swift, another Grammy-winning artist often compared to Parton, earned a net positivity of 3%. In stark contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin landed at the opposite end of the spectrum with a net favorability of -65%.
Factors Behind Parton's High Favorability
Parton's nearly seven-decade career in music and acting, including roles in acclaimed films like 9 to 5, has undoubtedly contributed to her popularity. However, experts suggest that her apolitical public relations strategy plays a crucial role. In a 2017 interview cited by the political news outlet the Hill, Parton stated, "Everybody 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." This approach has helped her maintain broad appeal across political divides.
Additionally, Parton's prolific philanthropic work has won her many admirers. Her Dollywood Foundation's Imagination Library has donated over 270 million books to children under five in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Australia. She also donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee to support the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, contributed funds for pediatric infectious disease research, and gave more than $12 million to families affected by the 2016 Tennessee wildfires. In 2022, she received the prestigious Carnegie medal of philanthropy, and Time recognized her as one of its most influential philanthropists in 2025.
Reflecting on her charitable efforts, Parton said upon accepting the Carnegie medal, "I just give from my heart. I just see a need, and if I can fill it, then I will." This combination of artistic legacy, apolitical stance, and generous philanthropy has solidified her status as a beloved figure in American culture.
