Dolly Parton Leads U.S. Favorability Rankings With +65 Net Rating

A University of Massachusetts Lowell poll released April 9, 2026, found Dolly Parton has the highest net favorability rating of any public figure measured in America at +65. The survey placed her 83 points ahead of President Donald Trump, who registered -18, and 62 points above Taylor Swift at +3.

The UMass Lowell poll measured net favorability—the percentage viewing someone favorably minus those viewing them unfavorably—across dozens of public figures. Parton's +65 rating exceeded former President Barack Obama (+14) by 51 points and exceeded Russian President Vladimir Putin (-65) by 130 points, making Putin's rating essentially a mirror image of Parton's in the opposite direction.

The gap between Parton and Swift illustrates a distinction between cultural reach and broad approval. Swift's touring revenue and commercial dominance dwarf Parton's current output, yet her +3 net favorability suggests roughly equal numbers of Americans view her positively and negatively. Parton's rating indicates substantially more people across the political and demographic spectrum hold favorable views of her.

Among political figures, the results showed 2028 presidential prospects trailing behind Parton. Vice President Kamala Harris registered -11, Senator JD Vance -10, and Senator Marco Rubio -3. For context, Biden held approximately +5 net favorability before his 2020 victory, and Trump averaged around -4 heading into 2024.

UMass Lowell carries an A- rating from Silver Bulletin, a poll aggregator that tracks methodological accuracy. The university has conducted similar favorability surveys tracking shifts in public opinion across election cycles and major political events.

Context

Parton's standing reflects a rare convergence of cultural longevity, bipartisan appeal, and philanthropic visibility. In March 2026, Tennessee officially designated March 3 as Dolly Parton Day, and East Tennessee Children's Hospital was renamed the Dolly Parton Children's Hospital in recognition of her decades of charitable work. Her Imagination Library has distributed over 200 million books to children since its 1995 founding, and she donated $1 million to Sevier County wildfire relief in 2016.

The poll's inclusion of Parton serves a methodological purpose: UMass Lowell uses her as a benchmark for measuring genuine cross-partisan approval, a quality that has become rare among American public figures. Most politicians, celebrities, and business leaders tested in recent years show net favorability ratings below +10, with many prominent figures registering negative numbers.

What's Next

Parton's dominance in favorability rankings does not translate directly to political influence or commercial outcomes—Swift's touring revenue and cultural impact remain substantially larger—but it positions Parton as a rare figure capable of bridging ideological divides at a time when partisan polarization shapes most public opinion. The +65 rating establishes a ceiling against which future surveys will measure whether any political figure, entertainer, or public personality can achieve comparable cross-party approval. Upcoming favorability tracking will reveal whether Parton's standing remains stable or shifts as new events reshape public sentiment.