Dolly Parton vs. Howard Stern

Country legend Dolly Parton isn't flattered by a recent Howard Stern parody, in which the satellite radio host mashed up Parton quotes to make it sound as if the singer were spewing offensive and racist remarks. In a post on her official website, Parton is quoted as saying she has "never been so shocked, hurt and humiliated" in her life, and even hints and at potentially suing the shock jock.

Parton was the victim of one of Stern's "audiobook" bits, in which celebrity quotes are pieced together to form chopped-up, raunchy sentences. In the past, Stern has remixed quotes from the likes of William Shatner and Oprah.

In the bit with Parton, which originally aired last week, Stern and his cohorts cut up Parton quotes in an attempt to make it sound as if the artist were saying a host of sexually explicit and racist remarks. Said Parton on her site: "In a blue million years, I would never have such vulgar things come out of my mouth. They have done editing or some sort of trickery to make this horrible, horrible thing. Please accept my apology for them and certainly know I had nothing to do with this. If there was ever going to be a lawsuit, it's going to be over this. Just wanted you to know that I am completely devastated by this."

While the explicit content of the Stern bit prevents me from linking to it, has Parton's response to the bit simply brought more publicity to Stern, or did the overtly racist content of the sketch warrant a response from the artist?

Photo courtesy AP

Comments

[stern sucks]

Howard Stern is the offensive, racist pig. Let Sirus have him.

[Randy]

I guess Dolly is hurting for money.

Stern fans know it's a joke, not to mention Stern fans wouldn't listen to her garbage songs anyway.

I think the size of her breast are offensive.

[Aaron]

No one could possibly believe Dolly Parton actually said these things. First of all, the clips' sound quality indicates clearly that it is spliced together. Second, the Stern show has done this for years with other audio books. Clearly it's a joke.

[c138]

it's funny, and it's a parody. If you are offended by this don't listen to it. If you are offended and you continue to listen, you are an idiot. By the way, anyone that refers to audio editing as "trickery" is either brain dead or from the 15th century.

[gk08]

I have a feeling Dolly never heard the bit and only read a transcript or was told about it. Anyone who heard this on the air can tell that Howard and the gang obviously love Dolly and were having fun with her new audiobook. The edit is choppy as if tape was spliced together with scotch tape! It is one of the funniest things I heard on Howard in awhile and not for a second did I think badly about Dolly or her book.

[BabaBooey]

Dolly doesn't need to worry about Howard making jokes about her. She's been doing that herself for years!

[BabaBooey]

Dolly doesn't need to worry about Howard making jokes about her. She's been doing that herself for years!

[mike g]

this is one reason why this country is pathetic sometimes. its so obviously fake and also funny. get a sense of humor. and dolly look your relavent for a second. old hag. you havent been cool since ohyeah never. this is why we get laughed at by other countries. stop being so uptite. if you dont like it dont listen

[SternfanDave]

Free Speach, nothing can be done about it. Maybe Dolly should lean how to take a joke, what ca she really sue Howard for?

[Michael]

Sue him for every dime he has. Let him take the bus or bum a ride from friends from now on.

Free Country has it wrong: there is no parody here. Stern didn't spoof the book, he ridiculed her. He can't hide behind the "public figure" claim. Remember when Carol Burnett won her libel suit against the Enquirer (IIRC--one of those tabloids)? They made up lies about Burnett. Stern made up false quotations by Parton. It's calumny.

Being on satellite radio, Stern is outside the reach of the FCC, so he can broadcast all the dirty words he wants to and won't suffer the fate of Carlin, or the nearly universal condemnation of Imus.

But he should pay a painfully large price for his intentional attack on the character and reputation of Parton.

[Chris F.]

The only morons who think Dolly would actually win a claim for this are the same humorless dimwits who have disliked him all along. No one with half a brain would listen to the splices and believe that it came verbatim from her mouth. Besides, the only people who are hearing it are Stern fans who realize that it is a joke, so there is no harm to her.

[Nervous Mark]

This is a paid service. If you don't like it Dolly (o)(o) cancel your subscription. And spend your savings on some new implants, you phony baloney.

[Lee d]

"""""""""'Free Country has it wrong: there is no parody here. Stern didn't spoof the book, he ridiculed her. He can't hide behind the "public figure" claim. Remember when Carol Burnett won her libel suit against the Enquirer (IIRC--one of those tabloids)? They made up lies about Burnett. Stern made up false quotations by Parton. It's calumny.""""""""""

stern's been doin it forever, and how many times has he lost a lawsuit over cut up voiceovers? lmao at the morons who think dolly has a shot here. she just wants to be in the headlines

[Andrew]

Sue him for what?

Stern has done this exact bit for over 10 years now with pretty much anyone that has an audiobook. BIll Clinton, Oprah, Geroge Takei, Robin Quivers, Dolly Parton, and many, many others.

It's a bit people. You are going to sue him for making a joke at your expense?

This is exactly why Stern does this. He just generated a TON of buzz for Sirius with a bit he does regularly.

If you are going to due him are you going to sue MadTV, SNL, etc that have made fun of Dolly as well? Just cause Sirius is uncensored made it a bit more vulgur. This is Stern's dream for publicity.

[Vanessa]

My parents live very near her in TN. Dolly is a beautiful person, especially of the heart. Until you know the things she has done for her fellow Tennesseeans, and countless others around the country, you wont understand the pain in her reaction. She could never, ever hurt anyone, and cant fathom why someone would. This is not free speech, far from it. Its infuriating to me when uneducated morons scream free speech and have never even read a sentence of the constitution. I hope she does sue. Maybe he will think twice about mentioning Dolly's name again. I would.

[Xkalibur]

You know he used to be ok, but as I get older I realize that he hasn't and the things have gotten worse, and there is both no class and lack of respect for other people and it's sad how some people can get so rich off such low class actions!

[blake]

HOWARD RULES..
THOSE THAT DON'T LIKE HIM ARE THE SAME IDIOTS THAT LIKE RYAN SECREST AND DANE COOK...
BORING,LAME,
VELVEETA AND WHITE
BREAD REPRESSED
FOOLS

[Sal Governale]

Hi, this is Sal Governale. I might have made some comments that may have sounded racist. If anyone was offended by this I sincerely apologize, and had made it as a joke. Thank you.

[CUNT_RY_FAN]

HA HA HA! Sounds like a hilarious BIT! Wish I heard it! Could it be Dolly is looking to CASH in on work that she didn't create?

[CUNT_RY_FAN]

Uh...folks. For the record, Dolly didn't actually *say* those words.

[Ivan]

This is so freaking stupid. This would mean that anytime SNL, Mad TV, Any late night talk show "Leno, Letterman, O'Brian" could all be sued for their skits. Could you imagine Leno getting sued over having the fake Arnold on his show or SNL getting sued for every skit they did involving a celebrity impersonation? People can be so dumb sometimes it boggles my mind!

[J]

It's doubtful she'd get anywhere w/ a lawsuit, judging by what he's been able to get away with in the past. Why anyone listens to his drivel is beyond me anyway. He's great at appealing to the lowest common denominator for humor. Most of his listeners are either in the pubescent to early twenty-something range, or they haven't grown up enough mentally to let go of his kind of childish--albeit vulgar--banter. One thing's for certain...she can be proud of her tiereless efforts to improve a lot of lives. Stern? Now that's a joke.

[Wendy]

If she is hurt, it's hardly a joke. People think that if you are a celebrity you have no feelings. Stern should just apologize to her. The laugh is over anyhow. Yes if she ignored it then no attention would be brought to it - people will overlook it. I don't think a lawsuit will accomplish anything. Nonetheless Dolly Parton is a well-liked star and fans know what kind of person she is; a good-hearted person.

[Nathan]

People that get mad at this kind of stuff is what is wrong with this country. We've become a bunch of soft, easily offended, humorless jackasses.

Baba Booey!

[Derek]

Dolly needs to learn to take a joke. Howard cuts up clips from audio books from many celebrities, it's not like he went out and "attacked" her only. When you are a celebrity expect yourself to be open for jokes. It's called freedom of speach. That being said all Dolly did was give Howard free publicity, she doesn't have a case.