Beyoncé Fans Think Dolly Parton Called Out Cowboy Carter Backlash

Dolly Parton doesn’t want to hear any Cowboy Carter criticism — at least, that’s what fans think.

When Beyoncé dropped her country album on March 29, Parton featured on the record’s aptly named track “Dolly P,” and also on Bey’s reimagined version of her 1973 hit “Jolene.”

But while Cowboy Carter broke streaming records upon its release, Queen Bey’s move into the country genre has sparked backlash among some naysayers. She addressed it at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards on April 1, telling the audience that the music industry should be “more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art with no preconceived notions.”

That same day, Parton shared a clip from her 1982 movie, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, on Instagram, along with the caption, “The door is that way.”

In the clip, she sings part of the song “A Lil’ Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place,” the lyrics of which read, “Are you listening good? Keep them leeches and bloodsuckers off the back roads.”

The lyrics continue, “I know how to use a gun / And nobody messes with my girls / And any questions you might have about the way I run this place / Don’t gripe and whine behind my back / Just tell me face to face.”

Many in the “Beyhive” think the post was subtly calling out haters. One user commented on Instagram, “There’s a message here for those complaining about a recent release.”

“The shade and the tea, and I am here for both of it,” another fan wrote, while one user added, “Dolly P with the clap back and we live for it!”

Dolly Is A “Big Fan” Of Bey

Parton’s post came a few days after she congratulated Bey on the new album. “Wow, I just heard ‘Jolene,’” she wrote on Instagram. “Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it! Love, Dolly P.”

This isn’t the first time Parton has shown love for Beyoncé recently. In February, the country music icon congratulated her on becoming the first Black woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

“I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album,” Parton wrote in a message. “So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country No 1 single. Can’t wait to hear the full album!”