Dolly Parton addresses Black Lives Matter movement: 'Of course Black lives matter'

close

Video

Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for August 13

Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment.

Dolly Parton is speaking her mind.

The legendary country star recently spoke to Billboard about the racial tension in the United States and around the world, and voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

“I understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen,” Parton said when asked about the protests. “And of course black lives matter. Do we think our little white a--es are the only ones that matter? No!”

DOLLY PARTON SET TO RELEASE FIRST HOLIDAY ALBUM IN 30 YEARS: 'A HOLLY DOLLY CHRISTMAS'

Also discussed was the 2018 decision to rename the popular Dollywood dinner attraction previously known as Dixie Stampede, which is now simply called Dolly Parton’s Stampede.

Dolly Parton has voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images) (Getty)

The change was made when it was brought to the "Jolene" singer's attention that the word "dixie" was offensive.

"Dixie" is a term associated with the southern United States in the period before slavery was abolished.

DOLLY PARTON, LIL NAS X, GABRIELLE UNION, AND MORE WILL ATTEND VIRTUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS

According to The Atlantic, the term was popularized by songwriter Daniel Emmett, a star of minstrel shows, which are widely regarded as having been racially inappropriate, before becoming synonymous with the time period and the region.

“There’s such a thing as innocent ignorance, and so many of us are guilty of that,” Parton said. “When they said ‘Dixie’ was an offensive word, I thought, ‘Well, I don’t want to offend anybody. This is a business. We’ll just call it the Stampede.’"

Dolly Parton's theme park Dollywood renamed the attraction 'Dixie Stampede' to 'Dolly Parton's Stampede' in 2018. (AP Photo/Amy Smotherman Burgess, Knoxville News Sentinel, File)

She advocated taking action when you learn or realize that something is a problem.

"As soon as you realize that [something] is a problem, you should fix it,"
 Parton said. "Don’t be a dumba--. That’s where my heart is. I would never dream of hurting anybody on purpose.”

Two years after Parton dropped the term from her attraction, country bands Lady Antebellum and The Dixie Chicks have followed suit.

Now known as Lady A and The Chicks, respectively, both bands announced the name changes this summer.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Chicks appear to have avoided any controversy since then, but Lady A has filed a lawsuit to secure the rights to the name against Anita White, a blues singer who has used the moniker for decades.