Bill Maher Gripes Dolly Parton’s Death Dominated the Week’s News: ‘All This Is Going On’

During his Friday night monologue on “Real Time,” Bill Maher remarked that Dolly Parton’s death took center stage in the news cycle, suggesting that other significant events may have been overshadowed. The comedian began by acknowledging Parton’s passing at the age of 80, stating, “Thank you for being in a good mood. We did have a tough week, Dolly Parton died, there was horrible flooding in Nepal and I found out today that Canada has been treating me very badly.”

Amidst the tributes, Maher turned his attention to pressing issues including Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada, mocking the president’s idea to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. He also addressed the ongoing conflict in Iran, and the various global commemorations marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, including the lighting of landmarks around the world in Parton’s honor.

Despite his playful jab at the mourning, Maher’s audience reacted with applause and cheers. The comedian then shifted focus to other topics, mentioning Meta’s proposed $18 billion settlement for addressing teen social media addiction, likening it to Big Tobacco’s targeting of children. He humorously suggested that under 18s should be restricted to Pornhub during certain hours.

Parton, known for hits like “I Will Always Love You” and “9 to 5,” was remembered with tributes from celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Bill Clinton, among others.