Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

SC Public Radio's statewide network is experiencing intermittent outages and programming issues due to ongoing infrastructure upgrades. Our team is working to keep these disruptions to a minimum and to resolve issues that do arise. Streaming on this site, the SCETV App, the NPR App, and smart speakers is unaffected.

Why many Black Americans feel a special kinship with Dolly Parton

NPR | By Jordan-Marie Smith,

Justine Kenin, Adrian Florido

Published August 26, 2026 at 4:27 PM EDT

The late superstar Dolly Parton had an incredible legacy in American culture. That was even true from a Black American viewpoint. The Black Wall Street Times' Nehemiah Frank describes Parton's impact.

Tags

All Things Considered

Jordan-Marie Smith

Jordan-Marie Smith is a producer with NPR's All Things Considered.

Justine Kenin

Justine Kenin is an editor on All Things Considered.

Adrian Florido

Adrian Florido is a national correspondent for NPR covering race and identity in America.