For decades, Dolly Parton was one of the great inspirations for drag queens, who recreated her signature hair, makeup, flashy clothing, and ultra-feminine style. The singer spoke humorously about these impersonations and acknowledged that she felt flattered to see other people using her image as a reference.
She even shared a curious anecdote in which she participated in disguise in a Dolly Parton impersonator contest. She showed up with an enormous wig, lots of makeup, and an exaggerated look, but no one knew that the real Dolly was among the contestants. To her surprise, she ended up losing to a drag queen who was impersonating her.
Dolly recalled that story with great humor and considered being impersonated one of the greatest forms of flattery. To her, drag queens had not only borrowed elements of her appearance, but had also turned her image into a form of expression and spectacle.