BROADCAST BIAS: Dolly Parton taught the world the way to be universally beloved

When the news broke that Dolly Parton had died at age 80, the networks exploded in tributes and primetime specials about her career in music and acting and her plethora of good works.Everyone remarked on how rare it was that someone could be universally beloved.

How could that be done?Some of the answer to that is simple: Be kind to everyone.Be generous in spirit and with your wealth.

One crucial thing, especially in the last 10 years, is to steer entirely clear of politics, if such a thing is possible.The media has tried to shame entertainers who refuse to speak on politics.

Dolly brought her aura of celebrity and philanthropy in a way that she could escape the shaming attempts.But she perfected the formula a long time ago, ingratiating herself to a broad audience.One of the old TV clips making the rounds was a 1977 interview on ABC with Barbara Walters, who asked questions that could come across as offensive, even hostile.

"Dolly, where I come from, would I have called you a hillbilly?" She hinted that parts of her body might be artificial: "Is it all you?"DOLLY PARTON'S LIFE IN HER OWN WORDS: FROM SMOKY MOUNTAINS POVERTY TO COUNTRY MUSIC IMMORTALITYThen, about her appearance in general, Walters pressed: "You don't have to look like this.You're very beautiful.

You don't have to wear the blonde wigs.You don't have to wear the extreme clothes, right? ...

Do you ever feel that you're a joke that people make fun of you?"Dolly Parton made her film debut in "9 to 5" with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.(20th Century-Fox/Getty Images)Dolly never took offense.

Walters had a habit of trying to ask questions the audience at home might be thinking, so these questions were a chance to address them.Perhaps the roughest question was about how she didn’t see much of her husband Carl Dean on the road, so Walters asked if the love was real, and, "Why have a husband away someplace to see six weeks a year?"STEVE DOOCY: THE DOLLY PARTON I SAW WHEN THE CAMERAS STOPPED ROLLINGWalt...