Dolly Parton Delights Drag Queen With Sparkling Gift Amid Anti-Drag Bill Battle!

Dolly Parton, the queen of country music, found the perfect gift for a Texas drag queen. And that performer shared her response when she opened the bedazzled present from Dolly.

But Parton’s decision to befriend the drag queen also shows the country music star’s support for the community. Get all the details below.

Dolly Parton Ended 2023 On High Note

Amid a performance at a Texas club, drag queen Brigitte Bandit opened a surprise gift from Dolly Parton. And at first, Brigitte couldn’t even speak because of her delighted shock, per News Nation.

And as the crowd watched, the Texas drag queen gazed down at an acoustic guitar. Because Dolly took time to bedazzle the musical instrument with white and pink rhinestones, the personalized gift meant something extra special. But Parton kept the message simple, just writing, “To Brigitte. Love, Dolly Parton.”

And in an interview later, Bandit shared, “I honestly can’t believe it’s even real.” But the instrument appears very real, she admitted. However, the drag queen confessed, “I keep staring at it being like it’s just going to disappear, and I’m going to wake up from this dream because it’s just — it’s just wild. It’s very exciting.”

Dolly Parton Inspires Drag Queen

And Bandit explained that Dolly learned about her when Rebecca Seaver, with Dolly Parton Productions, saw a photo of her testifying at the Texas Capitol. Seaver showed the pic to Dolly, who then sent the special guitar to the drag queen.

And Bandit revealed, “Dolly Parton was actually the second concert I ever saw. My first one was Cher, and Dolly was my second. I like to joke that’s why I’m a drag queen now. But Dolly has always been such a huge inspiration.”

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However, Brigitte also admitted, “I do call myself the Dolly of Austin. My very first paid booking was a Dolly show. Whenever I started to get a little bit more traction in the drag community, for some reason, Dolly and Brigitte just got together. And I was booked for so many Dolly events that eventually I just ended up becoming the Dolly. Often if somebody wanted a Dolly, I was there.”

Brigitte Bandit Testifies For Drag Queen Community

But apart from her work, Bandit visited the statehouse amid the regular legislative session in 2023 to testify against a number of bills. For instance, she testified against bills limiting who could see drag performances and creating consequences for public libraries that host drag story time events for children.

And the drag queen also teamed up with other plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against the state over the performance law. As a result, a federal judge issued a permanent injunction in September. However, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would appeal that ruling.

And although the political battles challenged Bandit, she cherishes the gift from Dolly. And as 2024 begins, the drag queen calls it “a public statement to send a guitar to a drag queen in Texas right now that’s fighting this kind of anti-drag and anti-trans bills.”

Dolly Parton Makes Sure People Feel ‘Heard’

As a result, Bandit shared her love for “Dolly for supporting the community and making sure that the people who are doing this feel heard. Everybody’s excited to see that people notice what we’re doing here.”

But Bandit will use her gift for a very special occasion. And the drag queen shared that she has planned to perform a Dolly tribute on the singer’s birthday on Jan. 19.

Tell us what you think. How do you feel about Dolly Parton’s support for a drag queen who calls herself the “Dolly of Austin”? And after you share your views, check back on our site for more celebrity news.

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