08/27/2026
We remember Dolly
Dolly always said it cost a lot of money to look that cheap — and she loved telling the story of quietly entering a drag queen look-alike contest as herself and losing.
She never treated the queens as imitators. She treated them as colleagues.
So there's something almost scripted about what happened Tuesday.
Hours after her death was announced, Judge David Hittner — appointed by Ronald Reagan — declared Texas Senate Bill 12 unconstitutional, writing that its definitions were so vague and sweeping they could reach Elvis's hips, cosplayers, or athletes.
And yes, anyone who ever shamed Dolly Parton for the hair, the clothes, the silhouette.
He even named her in the ruling right next to Miley Cyrus. Her actual goddaughter. In a federal opinion.
The case was brought by the ACLU of Texas on behalf of performers and venues, led by Brigitte Bandit — the Austin queen who testified against the bill at the Capitol in full Dolly regalia, and who owns a rhinestone guitar the woman herself sent her in 2023.
Her reaction to the ruling: "Drag is free speech, b----."
She's performing as Dolly in Austin on Saturday, in her honor.
The full picture, though? This is the second time this law has been struck down — Paxton already appealed once and can appeal again, and he's currently running for Senate on exactly this kind of grievance.
The fight isn't over.
But right now, tonight, the ban is unenforceable.
Somewhere a woman with big hair is smiling. Offended? Then you don’t HAVE to go to a fabulous drag show. But it’s your loss.
