Megyn Kelly tried to honor Dolly Parton after the country legend’s death — but the tribute quickly exploded into controversy.
The conservative commentator, 55, posted a heartfelt message on X after Parton’s death at age 80 was announced Tuesday.
“Dolly Parton seemed as close to total goodness as any mere mortal could come,” Kelly wrote. “She united us all in our love and admiration for her and, now, in mourning her. God bless you Dolly. R.I.P.”
But instead of simply joining in the mourning, social media users immediately turned on Kelly.
Critics accused the former Fox News host of praising a woman whose public image of kindness, generosity and acceptance they argued clashed sharply with Kelly’s own history of controversial remarks.
One commenter wrote, “Dolly was everything you aren’t: warm, generous, beloved — and good television.”
Another response was even more aggressive.
“Shut the f— up. She hated everything you stand for. You have no business even saying her name,” the user wrote.
Others accused Kelly of trying to associate herself with Parton’s reputation.
“You of all people praising Dolly Parton is rich,” another user wrote. “Dolly spent her life leading with kindness, compassion, generosity, and respect for people others marginalized.”
The commenter added that Kelly had built a career they viewed as nearly the opposite, telling her not to use “Dolly’s light” to soften her image.
Another critic blasted Kelly with accusations of racism and xenophobia, while one person said it was “shocking” to see her say something positive about a person whose beliefs and public demeanor they considered dramatically different from her own.
Some users took a slightly less hostile approach and simply suggested Kelly should learn from Parton.
“You could take a page from her book,” one wrote.
Another asked, “Was that so hard? Why don’t you emulate her?”
Kelly did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the backlash.
She was not the only prominent conservative figure criticized for publicly mourning Parton.
Ivanka Trump also faced criticism online over her own tribute to the music legend.
Parton’s death was announced Tuesday by her nephew, Bryan Seaver.
Her representatives later told People that the singer died after a “brief battle with cancer,” though they did not reveal what type of cancer she had.
Parton had reportedly been admitted to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville the previous Friday.
Earlier this month, the singer had told fans she had “been through hard times with my health,” including problems involving her gastrointestinal tract and kidney stones.
In a statement following her death, Parton’s team praised the massive impact she had on fans around the world.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,” the statement said.
It also highlighted her generosity, noting that she helped countless people she never personally met.
Kelly’s tribute may have been intended as a simple farewell.
Instead, it became another heated online fight over politics, legacy and who gets to claim a connection to one of America’s most beloved entertainers.
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Kelly’s goal is a better America… Dolly’s was mainly money… and she didn’t care who got hurt… she wasn’t interested in righting wrongs…
“Furious backlash” for paying tribute to a woman with a truly good heart. I would hope that I never get criticized for honoring someone I deemed a better person than myself. I, and everyone else, should be able to exercise our right to honor someone that has passed in the way that we see fit, without fearing backlash from thoughtless, ignorant people.
The bunch of piss ant liberals who support mutilating children to try and change their gender need to shut up.