Defeated Candidate in Tennessee Congressional Race Who Trashed Country Music Covers Dolly Parton Song

I guess the old saying, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, ” is true. At least as it apparently applies to Democrat Aftyn Behn, 36. She just lost a closely-watched contest to fill the congressional seat representing the 7th District of Tennessee that was left vacant a few months ago by GOP legislator Mark Green. She was edged out by Matt Van Epps, a Republican, in the December 2 special election.

But that was not the sole aspect of the race that caught the public’s attention. Years ago, Behn reportedly ripped country music. Now, she’s singing a Dolly Parton track.

Aftyn Behn’s Observations About Country Music Raised Some Hackles

Behn is a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. She reportedly made some astonishingly negative (tone deaf?) remarks about country music five years ago. They resurfaced to haunt her recently.

Per Wide Open Country, Behn allegedly ranted in 2020 on the Year Old GRITS podcast about many things identified with Nashville. She spewed, “I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville. I hate it.”

She Later Attempted to Distance Herself From Those Disparaging Statements

The candidate tried to unring that bell, so to speak. What Behn originally said landed badly with a lot of people, so she did some hasty backtracking. Per the outlet via

Behn has also claimed to have been conceived after a George Strait concert. Wonder what the legendary “Amarillo by Morning” singer thinks about that!

Behn Kept Going

Per People, Behn let everyone know yet again that she is not anti-country music. At her concession speech following the election on Tuesday night, she donned a flashy, Western-influenced, rhinestone-studded ensemble. Behn sang Dolly Parton’s classic hit, “9 to 5” from the beloved film of that name. She can’t outdo Parton vocally, of course, but she gets some points for sheer pluck.