Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton song 'Rainbowland' banned from Wisconsin school class concert

Freelance Reporter Alison Jones  28/03/23

An American school board has come under fire after Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus’ 2017 song Rainbowland was vetoed for an upcoming school concert.  

First-grade teacher Melissa Tempel slammed the Waukesha, Wisconsin school board after she claimed rainbow-themed songs Rainbowland, as well as the Muppet Movie’s Rainbow Connection, were banned.  

Heyer Elementary sits on the outskirts of Milwaukee, and the School District of Waukesha, the body allegedly behind the ruling, saying their aim is for schools to ‘develop  our students and give them the capacity and skills to be career ready in their mission statement.   

Melissa guessed Rainbowland was banned because of the ‘beautiful lyrics’, which go: ‘Living in a Rainbowland / The skies are blue and things are grand / Wouldn’t it be nice to live in paradise / Where we’re free to be exactly who we are.

‘Let’s all dig down deep inside / Brush the judgment and fear aside,’ the song continues.  ‘Make wrong things right / And end the fight / ‘Cause I promise ain’t nobody gonna win (come on).’

When challenged by outraged Twitter users, Melissa said ‘no reason’ for the ban was given, though she surmised that as the two songs banned were rainbow-themed, with connotations towards support for the LGBTQ+ community, ‘it seems the reason is rainbows’. 

 Sarah Schindler, whose daughter goes to the Heyer Elementary School and was ‘very confused’ at the ban, told the LA Times the school board has experienced a ‘conservative flip’ in recent years.  

‘I know, Miley Cyrus kind of has a past, in the spotlight with, you know, talking about drug use, and sexuality, and all of that,’ she said.  ‘And Dolly Parton supports drag queens, and you know, that’s another thing going about in our country these days.