Stella Parton, the sister of the late country music star Dolly Parton, has publicly denounced President Donald Trump and the Republican party, citing concerns about election integrity and political division. Her criticisms were articulated in a series of social media posts made this week.
Parton expressed her frustration and anger, stating, “I’m so angry by all this devision in our country mainly caused by the Republican Party and their lack of accountability.” She questioned the public’s reaction to Trump’s rhetoric, noting, “Trump gets up and rattles on about another man’s physique and people applaud. Have we lost our ever loving minds?”
These remarks stem from Parton's personal experience at the polls in Tennessee. She alleged that a voting machine malfunctioned, repeatedly defaulting her vote to GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Trump ally running for governor. Parton stated she had to correct her selection three times, emphasizing, “I would never vote for her for anything.” She urged fellow voters to "Don’t let them rig this election."
Parton's account echoes similar claims from other voters in Williamson County, Tennessee, who reported issues with voting machines. WSMV reported that voters stated their selections would change to another candidate when they attempted to confirm their choice. The Tennessee Secretary of State's office told WSMV that out of approximately 400,000 votes cast during the early voting period, only one complaint matching Parton's issue had been received.
Parton also directed sharp criticism toward Trump and his allies in other posts. She claimed that voting Republican meant supporting “pedophilia” and referenced what she called the “horrific things being done to Ukraine by Trump, Musk and Putin,” adding that such actions were “unconscionable” and would soon affect the United States.
She further condemned actions in Gaza and criticized figures like Pete Hegseth for statements about bombing Iran, calling Trump's actions and rhetoric disastrous.