I get a little bit too excited when I talk about Dolly Parton. And I’m not ashamed. She is a captivating feminist icon, a woman for whom no rules apply but her own. When I spoke with director Tara Johns about Dolly, who inspired one of her films, she said, “You scrape the very thin veneer of that objectified image, and you get so much substance.”

Dolly is a fierce businesswoman, generous philanthropist, and all-around bad-ass lady, which is why I’m especially excited that Sheroes is inducting Dolly into their League of Extraordinary Ladies on Thursday, April 26th at the Beaver (1120 Queen St. W.) Here are our favourite Dollyisms, to get you excited for the party.

“I wanted to be the first woman to burn her bra, but it would have taken the fire department four days to put it out.” 

“I’m not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.”

“I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know that I’m not blonde.”

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”

~ Haley Cullingham, flyer designed by Tony Halmos