Dolly Parton Won 70% Favorability in 2026 Poll, Leading All Public Figures

2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 25

A March 2026 UMass/YouGov poll found 70% of Americans viewed Dolly Parton favorably — the highest rating of any person tested before her death Tuesday at 80.
Just 5% viewed Parton unfavorably, while roughly a quarter had no opinion or had not heard of her, suggesting even the standout rating may understate her broad appeal.
Three-quarters of both Democrats and Republicans rated her favorably, making Parton the only figure in the survey with majority support among Democrats, Republicans and independents.
Her standing far outpaced other prominent names: Parton roughly doubled Taylor Swift's 35% favorability and ranked well above Barack Obama and Volodymyr Zelensky.
That bipartisan popularity capped a public career spanning about 60 years, alongside a philanthropic legacy and repeated appearances on Gallup's Most Admired Woman list.