Dolly Parton was recently featured on a deluxe version of Sabrina Carpenter’s song, “Please Please Please.” The collaboration brought on a heartwarming moment between the two stars.
In a video posted on Parton’s Instagram, the duo appeared to be at a photoshoot promoting the song. While posing and laughing, Parton joked that they looked like “before and after” photos of one another.
“You’ll be this old one day,” Parton said.
Carpenter responded, “I can’t wait. I hope I look like you.”
This interaction caught the attention of fans on the internet for many reasons.
Women are constantly being encouraged to stop or slow down the aging process as if it is something to be afraid of. Plastic surgery, botox and filler are all becoming, not only increasingly normalized, but almost expected of women, especially in the entertainment industry.
As female celebrities get older, society tends to shift the spotlight to newer, younger women. They are usually cast as supporting roles in movies, rather than leads. People begin to question when they will begin to “settle down.” Men are rarely asked when they will take a break from their work to focus on starting a family.
While ageism does affect men in Hollywood, it affects them later in life than women. According to a TIME magazine article from 2015, women’s careers in the entertainment industry peaked at around 30 years old, while men’s peaked at around 46 years old.
Some fans also took to social media to compare Parton and Carpenter’s interaction to a scene in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, where Barbie meets an older woman and tells her how beautiful she is. The woman responds, “I know it.”
Seeing women embrace the aging process so confidently is inspiring for female audiences of all ages. It encourages young girls to be excited about getting older, rather than fearing it. It also reminds older women what a privilege aging can be.
Parton and Carpenter’s collaboration was a powerful reminder that women can be relevant and beautiful at any age.
Carpenter’s enthusiasm about getting older was a refreshing message for many people. Her positive outlook offers a new perspective that will hopefully inspire more women to recognize the gift of aging.