Dolly Parton has revealed that respecting Jesus was a dealbreaker for collaborating with pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter.
The country music legend, who has referenced faith throughout her career, said she had some ground rules for Sabrina before featuring on the single Please Please Please.
Parton said: “Of course, [Sabrina] can talk a little bad now and then.
“I told her, I said, ‘Now, I don’t cuss. I don’t make fun of Jesus. I don’t talk bad about God.”
Dolly joked: “I don’t say dirty words, on camera, but [am] known to if I get mad enough.’”
Sabrina Carpenter has previously come under fire from the Catholic church for filming a sexually suggestive music video in the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, New York. The Diocese of Brooklyn said it was “appalled” at the video, which saw a scantily clad Sabrina pretending to kill her ex-boyfriends, before attending a funeral at the church’s altar, wearing black lace lingerie.
“We got approval in advance,” Sabrina told Variety. “And Jesus was a carpenter,” the star quipped, referencing her fan’s nickname for themselves.
When it comes to the country-pop collaboration, Dolly’s moral stipulations were upheld with a subtle lyric change.
“I beg you don’t embarrass me, motherf***r,” has been swapped for “I beg you, don’t embarrass me like the others.”
Parton is open about her faith, fame, and role in shaping celebrity culture. In 2021, she told People magazine: “I don’t want to be worshipped, because there’s a scripture in my Bible that talks about idol worship. And I see that happening all the time with movie stars and these celebrities... But if I can set an example, then that’s great.”