Dolly Parton was secret Kathy Griffin fan

Kathy Griffin has claimed tthe late Dolly Parton was an avid viewer of My Life on the D-List but declined to make a guest appearance in case it upset her fans.

Dolly Parton was a secret Kathy Griffin fan but didn’t want to appear on My Life on the D-List incase it upset her own supporters.

The late country music legend – who died last month aged 80 – wrote “the nicest letter” to the 65-year-old comic praising her documentary series and while she was an avid viewer, she declined to make a guest appearance.

Discussing how she debated using their mutual lawyer to get in touch about a potential guest spot, Kathy told Entertainment Weekly: “I didn’t want to bother the great Dolly Parton.

“She couldn’t do it because I’m a little outrageous for her fans. But, she wrote me the nicest letter saying, ‘I wish I could do it. I watch it all the time. Keep doing your thing. You’re so good at what you do.’ It was above and beyond.

“I appreciated her honesty, which was… I love the show, but I live in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.”

Kathy admitted the Jolene singer had praised her work and outspoken attitude twice – but only out of earshot of anyone else.

She said: “Twice, she told me that! It was funny because both times she wanted to be alone, because she didn’t want somebody to hear Dolly Parton say, ‘Go for it, b****!’.

“She’d be like, ‘You’re just a funny b****. You say the stuff I’m afraid to say, but I want to hear you say it,.’

“Wow, that is the perfect human right there. People talk about her being the beacon of everything, and I saw it with my own eyes, having the opportunity to even talk with her about anything.”

Kathy’s comments expanded on a recent post she shared on Threads, in which she recalled Dolly had urged her to “give it to all these phonies” and never to back down in the face of judgement and criticism.

Responding to a post which asked: “Who is someone you only met once or twice in your life, but who said or did something that completely shifted your perspective?”, Kathy wrote: “In private, away from anyone, the great Dolly Parton told me not to back off. Not to back down. And to “GIVE IT to all these phonies.”And then the giggle came. Nothing like her laugh. Nothing on earth. RIP and gratitude to our global legend.(sic)”