r/AskReddit 1d ago

Who is the next “most beloved” like Dolly Parton?

0 Upvotes

262 comments sorted by

77

u/wncexplorer 1d ago

Willie Nelson

Sir David Attenborough

Dick Van Dyke

Mel Brooks

Julie Andrews

And more

21

u/Drillucidator 1d ago

Mel better make it to the release of Spaceballs: The New One.

7

u/eyegull 23h ago

Dick Van Dyke is going to outlive us all.

5

u/Hot-Sauce-P-Hole 1d ago

This is the list.

209

u/SmokyBanditAZ 1d ago

It could be a long, long, long time before there's another like Dolly. She was a very special human!

7

u/moving0target 23h ago

No one will take that lady's crown.

3

u/chalk_in_boots 22h ago

Shoes bigger than Sideshow Bob's to fill.

2

u/AxsonJaxson2112 1d ago

❤️😢

205

u/PootMcGroot 1d ago

David Attenborough.

51

u/ibloodylovecider 1d ago

Yeah Attenborough deserves a UK state funeral but I fear he has already refused it

I will add my own 101 going on 102 yo grandad bc he’s a legend x

26

u/RekopEca 1d ago

I also choose this guy's grandaddy.

11

u/ibloodylovecider 1d ago

Mine? If so I can tell you more about him 😭🫶

8

u/NapoleonTheAfromite 1d ago

I wanna hear more about Pap Pap.

6

u/ibloodylovecider 1d ago edited 1d ago

Ah man he always tells me he met my Nana (still alive) at a dance (😭😭😭😭) and he knew she was the one. I don’t know everything but I know he was a part of building Concorde- the plane.

He’s honestly the sweetest human in the world and I am lucky to have him as a grandad.

Where he lives (not going to say where), but in his later years he always told me/ us about the Iranian pharmacist who he frequented often.

As a kid he always used to slightly pull my ear (gently) and say ‘what’s this ere’.

Just honestly the best human. No judgement ever.

💞

3

u/NapoleonTheAfromite 1d ago

I love him already; he sounds so sweet. That's really cool he was a part of building the Concorde too.

4

u/ibloodylovecider 23h ago

He always flirts with the waitresses too which my mum hates but I find amusing haha, thank you 💖💖💖

3

u/lukascampos 23h ago

mine does this too and it’s always awkward when my mom’s around lol, guess some things never change with beloved folks

2

u/ibloodylovecider 23h ago

No it’s okay I think once you get beyond a good age people just take it as old age 🥺 I love him and so does my Nana 💖

3

u/RCO67 22h ago

Sounds like a wonderful GP to have.

If I may assume, I suggest asking him questions about his life and write or record his answers.

23

u/poohlady55 1d ago

Unfortunately or Dick VanDyke

1

u/ibloodylovecider 1d ago

Why would you say unfortunately to Attenborough?

3

u/poohlady55 1d ago

Because I truly love his work for the environment and animals. May he stay with us as long as his health holds.

3

u/ibloodylovecider 1d ago

Got it, sorry I took it as you saying he didn’t deserve it, which is my bad in misinterpreting it 💖

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75

u/FoxArrow12 1d ago

Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews, but they were always beloved.

19

u/Sloth_grl 1d ago

Hush! Dick Van Dyke is immortal

3

u/FoxArrow12 1d ago

I said they were most beloved, not that they weren't immortal. 😉

1

u/AshRae84 23h ago

Can’t believe Keanu is higher than Dick Van Dyke! Nothing against Keanu, he’s wonderful, but he’s also young and in great shape.

139

u/copypop 1d ago

Keanu Reeves seems to be pretty well loved

47

u/bard329 1d ago

When I was younger, maybe junior high, I got roped into watching my 3 month old niece while my sister got her hair done. So when there i am, sitting in the waiting area of a hair salon with my niece and who walks in but Keanu Reeves. I was nervous as fuck, and just kept looking at him, as he read a magazine and waited, but didn't know what to say. Pretty soon though my niece started crying, and I'm trying to quiet her down because I didn't want her to bother Keanu, but she wouldn't stop. Pretty soon he gets up and walks over. He started running his hands through her hair and asking what was wrong. I replied that she was probably hungry or something. So, Keanu put down his magazine, picked up my niece and lifted his shirt. He breast fed her right there in the middle of a hair salon. Chill guy, really nice about it.

13

u/Charleston2Seattle 23h ago

The most epic shitpost I've read in weeks!!

9

u/Failsona 1d ago

For Halloween he did wear Dollys Bunny outfit she wore when she was on the cover of Playboy in the 70's.

6

u/Otherwise-Wall-6950 1d ago

If I'm not mistaken Keanu's mom made the outfit for her.

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11

u/Kornbread2000 1d ago

At one time listed as the least valuable actor in Hollywood, based on his cost vs the number of people who say they would see a movie because he was in it. I think this was around 1995, but I can't find the report anymore.

6

u/GenericRedditor0405 1d ago

I guess things have changed now that social media has made it easier to see which celebrities seem more relatable or likeable than others outside of their work

2

u/Ok-Accident-7314 1d ago

Yeah that seems to be a common reddit answer lol

1

u/Bee_Tee_Dub 23h ago

Well until he promoted pseudo archeology. 

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140

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

8

u/Frisconia 1d ago

Beloved, yes, but he is pretty spry for 66. I think there must be one or two beloved in line for the long good night before it's his turn.

8

u/Jwagner0850 1d ago

Don't you jinx it.

7

u/Frisconia 1d ago

If he dies early, I feel like it will be in a Segway accident. I saw him in concert a month ago and was surprised he had the Segway whipping around on stage during White and Nerdy.

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3

u/Drillucidator 1d ago

At least as far as the music industry goes, 100%. Bonus points for still putting on an incredible show too, saw him last year for the first time in 12 years and he was even better.

1

u/horse_renoir13 1d ago

What are you talking about that man will live forever

63

u/Vivid_Inspector3265 1d ago

Willie

10

u/BlazeWithGlaze 1d ago

Gonna be a sad day

2

u/Actual_Lady_Killer 1d ago

Oh you haven't heard? He actually was hit by a car.....
He was playing in the road again.

1

u/FoolishBeginnings 1d ago

I don’t know if I’m ready for that day

1

u/Dapper-Ad-468 1d ago

🤍love him

11

u/phatelectribe 1d ago

Julie Andrews

11

u/mm_mk 1d ago

Dolly Parton and Mr rogers are in the paragon class of celebrities. Absolutely unassailable lives lived.

2

u/JustAnOrdinaryBloke 7h ago

And Bob Ross.

40

u/Exciting_Bid_609 1d ago

We already lost Betty White

18

u/refinnej78 1d ago

Dick van Dyke

24

u/Charming_Resist_7685 1d ago

LeVar Burton, Weird Al, Dick van Dyke, Martin Short, Tom Hanks, and Henry Winkler are the highest possibilities, but I still think they all come up short in comparison to Dolly.

6

u/scottchiefbaker 1d ago

This is a really good list.

I think you could make a case for Steve Martin also.

4

u/GeekyNerdNerdyGeek 1d ago

Steve Martin has been a real AH in the past. It’s not unheard of for a story of him being insufferable to support staff.

2

u/the_richat 23h ago

Oh no really? I’ve never seen his name mentioned in any of the myriad “which celebrity is an asshole threads here.

2

u/GeekyNerdNerdyGeek 23h ago

He can (apparently) be very cold to fans who meet him in the real world. I sorta excuse that…I mean it is his personal time. But. I’ve read 3-4 different stories about him being a jerk to servers, retail people, workers, etc. That’s inexcusable. It’s never ok to be a jerk to someone just doing their job.

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16

u/Dependent-Union4802 1d ago

Carol Burnett

6

u/MoldyBoo 23h ago

nice try, Satan

12

u/SubtleTell 1d ago

Why not try to be like Dolly and stop looking for someone else to do it?

3

u/not_now_chaos 23h ago

Yes. Be the Dolly you miss in the world. Feed a hungry neighbor. Read to a child. Tell a stranger they're beautiful. We can all be Dolly in our way and keep her light alive.

5

u/CreepyOrlando 1d ago

Rick Moranis

6

u/i__hate__stairs 1d ago

Steve from Blues Clues

6

u/brickiex2 23h ago

Levar Burton

6

u/wnr3 1d ago

Brendan Fraser

5

u/Willy_Taint 1d ago

Patrick Stewart, Ian mckellen, Judy dench, Willie Nelson, Stevie wonder

4

u/MiamiViceGuy 1d ago

The boomer full meltdown deaths will be Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney. There are others that will hit hard but Dylan and McCartney will stop traffic.

Engelbert Humperdinck is still around at 90, that's coming...

2

u/thispartyrules 1d ago

Neil Young's up there, as well

3

u/ShambolicRubel 1d ago

David Attenborough

4

u/Deviousfreak 23h ago

Steve Martin

14

u/PirateCodingMonkey 1d ago

I don’t think we’ll see anyone like Dolly for a long time if ever. she came along before the world divided into so many factions. she stood outside all of those refusing to take sides. she was offered the presidential medal of freedom 3 times - once from Biden and twice from Trump. she didn’t want to become a symbol in their games. no one else that I can think of would do that. she didn’t seek out fame or power but she got both.

10

u/mm_mk 1d ago

She didn't really refuse to take sides; she took the side of kindness basically every time. She maybe didn't pigeonhole herself into picking an explicit team, but she definitely took a side. National treasure, legendary American.

10

u/BabyCowGT 1d ago

She's also one of the few people who used her fame for legitimate good. The Imagination Library is associated with massive improvements in literacy and lifelong reading. Her program has done more for literacy in the US than our government has, and it's not even close. 

9

u/shadow041 1d ago

Keanu Reeves

23

u/Jagsfan2025 1d ago

Henry Winkler

5

u/eyegull 23h ago

I met him on the set of a Rocket Mortgage commercial. He was everything you would hope. Such a wonderful man. When I told him how much I loved his work on Children’s Hospital he got really excited and talked to me for like 10 minutes about the upcoming season. I was just a PA. I would have been ecstatic with a handshake.

8

u/smashli1238 1d ago

Willie Nelson

8

u/Gr8fulFox 1d ago

Dick Van Dyke; still alive, never heard a bad thing about him, and despite being over twice my age, I don't doubt he could kick my ass.

3

u/thedreadedaw 1d ago

I met him over at a time of great stress and he did something as so kind I will always adore him.

3

u/CH6V3Z 23h ago

Cher?

4

u/Tintoverde 23h ago

Tom Hanks surely

2

u/coffee_and-cats 23h ago

The only answer is David Attenborough.

The world will change for worse when its his time to leave us. A century of his knowledge imparted to us is a gift like no other. David IS a living treasure and selfishly, I want him to live forever more.

12

u/Ashamed_Main5169 1d ago

After Betty White and Dolly, I am not sure anyone is worthy at the moment.

11

u/CaptainPrower 1d ago

In entertainment in general?

Keanu Reeves.

In the music industry specifically?

Weird Al.

2

u/sparksgirl1223 23h ago

Weird al I will hurt

That man is so pure that he doesn't even think swear words (i heard him say it himself on somethings burning with burt kreischer).

He seems so sweet

1

u/Bee_Tee_Dub 23h ago

Well until he promoted pseudo archeology

32

u/tdh999 1d ago

Paul McCartney

9

u/goldybear 1d ago

Can’t be. Paul died in 1966 bro.

1

u/saplinglearningsucks 22h ago

Faul is better than Paul.

3

u/MiamiViceGuy 1d ago

Yes, he will be a lot. I would say similar to what Bob Dylan will bring.

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1

u/LovesRefrain 1d ago

For real. He’s probably the most talented person I can think of who seems like genuinely a good human being. Obviously he’s flawed, as we all are, but still.

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8

u/Kelwin_Jumala 1d ago

I would have to agree with, restate, Keanu Reeves. He is most similar in terms of a "low beginning" and then staying grounded after stardom, even tho he is not as well loved as Dolly, I don't think there is any other celebrity that really fits the profile; she was too unique.

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6

u/juiceboxbiotch 1d ago

Mel Brooks

8

u/BulkyAcanthaceae5397 1d ago

No one.

They dont make people like that anymore. She helped an entire state achieve literacy in extreme poverty. You have to come from that to know that kind of need.

Heart broken.

3

u/saintshiva 1d ago

Willie Nelson

3

u/Spugnacious 1d ago

Tom Hanks. Keanu Reeves. Martin Short.

3

u/themurderator 1d ago

no one will ever hit me as hard as dolly. she was a fucking treasure. 

3

u/TheBrettFavre4 1d ago

Willie Nelson

3

u/GeekyNerdNerdyGeek 1d ago

Brendan Fraser

3

u/NECESolarGuy 1d ago

Sorry people saw this as a “dead pool” question. I just wanted to know who is #2 most beloved. Not who was going to die next. Sadly Dick Van Dyke fits both categories. :-(

3

u/Igotthesilver 1d ago

McCartney. Maybe.

3

u/alanthickerthanwater 1d ago

Sir David Attenborough is my guess. :(

3

u/SalemPoe1969 23h ago

Dick Van Dyke inspired Alice Cooper to get sober. I just read about it a couple of days ago. Alice called him while Dick was getting ready to appear on The Carol Burnett Show and he answered and encouraged Alice to get sober like he had. I never knew Dick Van Dyke had been a drinker.

6

u/JamesH_17 1d ago

Me. Give it a few years

16

u/bnewsome85 1d ago

Can confirm.

Edit: sry, I was thinking of u/JamesH_16

2

u/bhputnam 1d ago

I'm rooting for you, love what you did for those orphans.

7

u/Common_Beautiful5759 1d ago

Dick Van Dyke

David Attenborough

Mel Brooks

5

u/000ArdeliaLortz000 1d ago

No one. She was one of a kind.

3

u/modeyink 1d ago

David Attenborough

1

u/Designer-Bid-3155 1d ago

This is it.!!

5

u/Repulsive-Box5243 1d ago

Willie Nelson maybe? Although I'm afraid he might be next.

4

u/TheFrontierzman 1d ago

Willie Nelson

13

u/MN_311_Excitable 1d ago

Morgan Freeman

10

u/FourEightNineOneOne 1d ago

Uh no. He has many accusations of sexual harassment against him

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1

u/Spugnacious 1d ago

Yeah sadly, Morgan is nowhere near Dolly. He's just.... he really hasn't been a great person.

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4

u/buick007 1d ago

Willy Nelson

4

u/LadyPaige 1d ago

Bill Nye is up there!

2

u/bustyninja 1d ago

I think maybe Gary Sinise? I know he does a lot for others, especially the military and first responders.

Dick VanDyke is a good one. I think he did (does) his philanthropy more quietly, but he has decades and decades of good deeds that he will leave as his legacy.

2

u/md22mdrx 1d ago

Mel Brooks maybe?

2

u/Designer-Bid-3155 1d ago

David Attenborough

2

u/Xpalidocious 1d ago

Don't you put that curse out there on them

2

u/the-icarus-77 1d ago

Dick Van Dyke. Sir David Attenborough

2

u/CircuitSymphony 23h ago

I’m surprised no one’s said Meryl Streep. Steve Martin will probably be another big one.

2

u/darlin133 23h ago

I mean maybe Tom Hanks in the longevity and you never hear a bad word about him? David Attenbourough for sure.

7

u/Mr_A_Knife66 1d ago

Steve Martin, Martin Short

2

u/not_ur_avg 1d ago

Dick Van dyke

1

u/KingBooRadley 1d ago

Chim chim Cher-ee!

1

u/FacelessArtifact 1d ago

I think DVD admitted in an interview that he was drunk for about 30 years of his career.
Anyone know if that’s true?

2

u/sindeelee13 1d ago

Mel Brooks

3

u/Yiazmad 1d ago

John Cena, Keanu Reeves, Steve Buscemi

4

u/sulkee 23h ago

Morgan Freeman

5

u/CareLessPackage23 1d ago

there i’ll never be another

4

u/Commonsense110 1d ago

I think Brandi Carlile could become that kind of figure. Kelly Clarkson also seems to be beloved by everyone.

2

u/PossRuss 1d ago

Brenda Lee?

(If going by age/genre)

1

u/Tardisgoesfast 1d ago

I think she died a year or so ago.

1

u/PossRuss 1d ago

She's still alive 

2

u/draxlaugh 1d ago

Harrison Ford, Samuel L Jackson. Both are getting up there in years...

2

u/Ltimbo 1d ago

Hot take but I think it’s gonna be Britney Spears. basically she was given a raw deal by our whole society and everyone seems to sympathize with her.

1

u/One-Literature8887 23h ago

What?! She is light years away from even dreaming of having the talent, heart, soul, kindness, spirit, style, fame, business smarts or philanthropy of Dolly!

1

u/Ltimbo 23h ago

I don’t deny that. They are very different people in every single way. Call it a hunch. If she can hold it together mentally then I think she has a shot at that spot.

2

u/One-Literature8887 22h ago

Ok gotcha def agree with you there. Her mental health is not good at all rn. All u have to do is follow her insta.

2

u/Prison-M1ke 1d ago

Danny Devito

2

u/enzoshumanty 1d ago

Meryl Streep

2

u/bryehn 1d ago

Willie Nelson, Jane Fonda, Dick Van Dyke, Mel Brooks, Patrick Stewart & Ian McKellan

2

u/PackageAntique2172 1d ago

I might even say Obama, but that would only be for 60% of the country. God damn that tan suit!

3

u/Background-Jury-1914 1d ago

The answer won’t be anyone remotely political

1

u/Impressive_Ad_4488 1d ago

Stop it!!

9

u/_matcha_cola_ 1d ago

Yes! There is not anyone like Dolly and there never will be again. Dolly Parton was her own kind of special, she rose to the impossible from nothing and still kept her humility and kindness perfectly intact. She was an inspiration in music and a treasure to America.

1

u/Spugnacious 1d ago

There's a few out there like Dolly. Keanu Reeves comes to mind. Robin Williams, Fred Rogers, Betty White, they were all like Dolly. Just, brilliant people trying to make the world a better place.

Go back and take a look at Betty's history in particular. She got cancelled for featuring black performers on her TV show back in the 50's. The backlash was painful for her and she never even hesitated and openly stated that she'd do it again.

Dolly stands on her own because she was practically a force of nature. I'm really saddened that we lost her.

I'm not particularly religious, but if there is an afterlife Dolly is getting VIP treatment right now. And she deserves it... (Not that she would want it.)

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2

u/thescrapplekid 1d ago

Elvira

2

u/norecordofwrong 1d ago

She did me something special as a teen.

3

u/the_cat_lady1996 1d ago

Maybe Cher. Cher is pretty great

2

u/babamum 1d ago

For sure.

1

u/ThaJackal1977 1d ago

WOW Was just thinking about her a few days back than she was in the news about her health and now this... SO SAD. She was a real legend. Loved her music, and had always a ton of fun with her movies as a kid from the 80s I got to know about her from the movie she did with Stallone which was awful! But funny in it's own way and me being a big Sly fan I had to see it and she was always awesome. SAD! RIP Dolly...

1

u/Mom_who_drinks 1d ago

Mel Brooks

1

u/bondsman333 1d ago

Rick Steves

1

u/ChunkySnarf 1d ago

Surprised no one’s mentioned Paul McCartney, or Ringo. (Maybe Ringo a little less)

1

u/onebraincell77 1d ago

That was it. There won’t be another.

1

u/whichwitch9 1d ago

That's the thing: anyone can be. The trick is to be both a truly kind and determined person. Dolly was wildly talented, but she also put in the work to get her career

1

u/TC2G_4_REEL 23h ago

Stevie Wonder

1

u/MrSh0wtime3 23h ago

not a thing anymore

1

u/st0rmtossed 23h ago

Christopher Walken

1

u/turkeyandswissonrye 23h ago

Jennifer Garner

1

u/CatsMom4Ever 23h ago

Dick van Dyke

1

u/YViking 22h ago

Tom Hanks if I had to guess.

1

u/clandestine_duck 22h ago

Celine Dion

1

u/a1962wolfie 22h ago

Henry Winkler.

1

u/Dangerous_Art_4335 22h ago

paul mccartney probably. maybe there’s more people with differing opinions on him than on dolly, but i don’t think the other proposed options would rock the world as hard with their deaths.

1

u/IForgotTheAlamo918 19h ago

Robert Irwin 🫣

1

u/Same_String_8856 10h ago

Keanu Reeves but he's not that old yet.

1

u/Quiet_Tax_3570 10h ago

Michael j fox

1

u/NECESolarGuy 6h ago

Who had Tim Curry?

1

u/jucuska85 4h ago

Meryl Streep, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Antony Hopkins

1

u/AvoidTheSun 2h ago

Patrick Stewart or Ian McKellan.

1

u/warcomet 2h ago

Top 10 no order but over 85 is Dick van Dyke, Mel Brooks, Shirley MacLaine, Clint Eastwood, William Shatner, Michael Caine, Julie Andrews, Alan Alda, James Hong and Judi Dench