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Dolly Parton leads list of America’s most popular figures

New national poll places country icon ahead of political leaders and other celebrities

Dolly Parton leads list of America’s most popular figures
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StarsInsider
14/04/2026 15:00 ‧ 4 hours ago | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY

Music artists

A new national survey has found that Dolly Parton is the most popular public figure in the United States, outperforming a range of political leaders and other celebrities.

The poll, conducted by the University of Massachusetts Lowell, measured favorability among American adults and placed the country music icon at the top of the list.

Parton recorded a net favorability rating of +65, far surpassing figures such as Barack Obama (+14) and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (+13). She also ranked significantly higher than Taylor Swift, who registered a modest +3.

Dolly Parton released her debut album in 1967 and rose to fame in the 1970s. She made her film debut in the iconic ‘9 to 5’ (1980) and continues to record and inspire younger generations. She is also the co-owner of the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee. 

Click through to find out more about Dolly Parton, a country music legend.

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