Kathy Griffin reveals Dolly Parton’s secret letter of admiration
Kathy Griffin is revealing more about Dolly Parton’s private support for her comedy, recalling the late country icon’s encouragement of her unfiltered approach to poking fun at celebrities.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly ahead of her upcoming New Face, New Tour stand-up run, Griffin reflected on her friendship with Parton, who died Aug. 25 at 80. The comedian previously shared that Parton had privately encouraged her to continue mocking Hollywood figures on stage.
“Twice, she told me that! It was funny because both times she wanted to be alone, because she didn’t want somebody to hear Dolly Parton say, ‘Go for it, bitch!’” Griffin recalled.
She said Parton understood that her comedy often tackled subjects she herself might not say publicly.
“She’d be like, ‘You’re just a funny bitch. You say the stuff I’m afraid to say, but I want to hear you say it,’” Griffin said. “Wow, that is the perfect human right there. People talk about her being the beacon of everything, and I saw it with my own eyes, having the opportunity to even talk with her about anything.”
Griffin also recalled Parton’s support when she considered inviting her to appear on My Life on the D-Listthe Bravo reality series that earned Griffin two Emmys.
“I didn’t want to bother the great Dolly Parton,” Griffin said of initially hesitating to reach out through their mutual lawyer.
Although Parton ultimately declined, Griffin said she sent her a personal letter explaining why.
“She couldn’t do it because I’m a little outrageous for her fans. But, she wrote me the nicest letter saying, ‘I wish I could do it. I watch it all the time. Keep doing your thing. You’re so good at what you do.’ It was above and beyond,” Griffin recalled.
She added that she appreciated Parton’s honesty, quoting her explanation: “I love the show, but I live in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.”
