Embed from Getty Images
Dolly Parton performed the halftime show at the Cowboys–Commanders game on Thanksgiving in Arlington, Texas. I imagine artists are instructed not to give even the appearance of favoring one team over another. But really, if you lead Dolly to Dallas Cowboy cheerleader country, Dolly must partake in the polyester, spandex, and sequins. And so Dolly donned her best wig and cheerleader costume and looked smokin’ hot at 77, and the world was better for it. The world is also better for this: Dolly marked the start of the 2023 Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign (they were sponsors of the halftime show) with a $1 million pledge. Good Golly Miss Dolly!
The Salvation Army’s 133rd Red Kettle Campaign received a massive contribution soon after launching for the season.
The campaign kicked off with a halftime performance by music legend Dolly Parton Thursday during the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders game at AT&T Stadium.
“I am so proud to have kicked off the giving season with my Red Kettle Kickoff performance!” the superstar posted on X. “Every dollar you give to @SalvationArmyUS helps your neighbors in need during the holidays and all year long.”
Salvation Army officials say Red Kettle donations have dipped in recent years, reaching $102 million in 2022, versus $126 million in 2019.
This may be due to continuing financial struggles from the pandemic and rising inflation, as well as the fact that less people carry cash.
To lend a hand, Parton – an avid philanthropist and author – pledged a whopping $1 million to the cause.
“Dolly’s contagious energy and positive spirit are just what we need to support The Salvation Army’s enormous effort to make this holiday bright for millions of individuals and families in need,” said Charlotte Jones, executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Dallas Cowboys and former national advisory board chairperson for The Salvation Army.
If you’re surprised by any of this news then you don’t know Dolly! She only looks cheap, but her deeds are solid gold. I am in awe (and envy) of Dolly’s energy. She just released her album Rockstar (which she recorded to make good on being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame), is working on a musical of her life for Broadway, runs her Imagination Library, has a pet line called Doggy Parton, and the list goes on! And don’t even mention retirement to her, she’s already said she’d rather “drop dead in the middle of a song” than retire. Meanwhile, I’m about half her age and am exhausted just thinking about the number and variety of Spanx it would take to get me into that Dallas Cowboys cheerleader outfit.
Good work Dolly, once again. If you don’t have time or carry cash to give to red kettles in your neighborhood, there are ways to donate online. And in honor of her generous pledge, I respectfully request that The Salvation Army mix up the usual Santa collectors by dispatching a few Dollys to the streets this year. But it may stir up trouble to suggest that Dolly collectors would outperform Santa collectors, so I definitely won’t do that.
Noooooo, Dolly, no! The Salvation Army is a terrible organization to donate to — they support and fund a lot of anti-LGBTQ+ initiatives.
☹️
Yeah, this was a miss. If you’re going to help people in need you need to include all.
With all the available charities to give to, an evangelical Christian organization would not be on my list.
I know 😭. There are better organizations more worthy of her and her values.
Thank you! It is 2023 and the world is in far too desperate shambles for people with good intentions to still be donating to the Salvation Army. See also: American Red Cross. This should be absolutely basic research for anyone doing any sort of charitable giving, let alone a liberal celebrity with a full philanthropic team.
Tis the season when every time someone ringing the bells for the Red Kettle asks for a donation I tell them I don’t sponsor groups that harm people and promote hatred and prejudice.
When I heard Dolly donated, I had hoped that meant they had fixed their bigoted anti-2SLGBTQIA+ ways. I am bummed to see they haven’t – and that this CB article encourages supporting them without addressing how homophobic they are.
The Salvation Army may help a lot of people, but they also do a great deal of harm to others. There are so many groups that just help people, plain and simple, and those are the groups we should support.
There are so many groups that just help people, plain and simple, and those are the groups we should support.
THIS.
I came here to say the same thing. The SA turns away LGBTQIA+ people. They are awful!
She is amazing.
Did anyone else notice that she was holding onto the set piece behind her and seemed to be walking gingerly.
as if the stage had cords or other impediments of she broke a heel or something.
I was concerned- she looked rickety- and she never looks rickety.
I noticed that too. I figured it was because the stage they built for her might have been slick and we know our girl likes hiiiiigh heels. I assumed she was just being cautious but I told my brother that if she falls, it’ll just be one more thing in a long list of things to hate Jerry Jones for.
I was so confused why they crowded her space with the giant star. She should have been ON TOP of the star, not clinging to the side of it with only 5 feet to move around! It was really odd how they staged her performance. The band was above her, she had to peek around the star behind her and hold on to it, she was poorly lit. She was wonderful, but I wanted something better (and safer) for her.
Dolly donates to lots of places.
I wish more of the wealthy would also.
I know the SA, and especially The American Red Cross have had problems with how the donations are dispatched/overhead costs.
I would love to see huge positive changes from both of these organizations.
Lots of people still see these 2 organizations as an easy way to donate to a long time “known” charity. IMO, donate and hope for the best.
In my area, the local SA runs programs tailored to the elderly.
David Sedaris…. Holy cow! That article in the link has left me stunned.
Is this man truly writing “comedy” in which he is saying hitting a child is OK?
Even if you grew up with that “spanking is OK” as many of us in our 60’s and older did, you must realize that is garbage.
Retire. And take Bill Mahr with you. You are multi-millionaires. Stop this.
I am forever grateful to Salvation Army. My brother struggled with addiction for decades until a judge told him he could choose between time in state prison or check into a Salvation Army rehab center and complete treatment (he had no insurance or safety net at the time). He chose rehab, checked into their center that very day, lived there for 6 months, followed the program, and has been sober to this day, years later. He says Salvation Army saved his life, and I believe him.
Rare miss from Dolly. I choose to believe she was unaware of the Salvation (hah) Army’s policy on this. If she does it next year, all bets are off. And she can recover from this by donating to LGBTQI groups.
She does SO MUCH under the radar. I would bet my own money that she’s done substantial good for LGBTIQ folks with hers, and never let anyone know.
Dolly is just about the best person in the world. Period.