Tool, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan shared a new video interviewing another of his Puscifer personas, Billy D. Berger, on the sixth episode of the “Tales From The Pusciverse Podcast.” The sketch paid an unusual tribute to the late Dolly Parton.
Keenan introduced the episode and his guest in the caption accompanying the post.
“Full length Billy D interview iykyk,” Keenan wrote. “MJ Keenan returns with episode six of the Tales From The Pusciverse Prodcast, and joining him is the man with no plan, the walking manifestation of recidivism, everyone’s favorite rapscallion, Billy D. Berger.”
In the video, Keenan hosted as himself and introduced the segment. He then posed a question to his alter ego about musical influences.
“Welcome to Tales from the Pusiverse podcast,” Keenan said in the video. “That’s Prov with an R, the companion piece to the Tales from the Pusiverse graphic novel series. I’m your reluctant host, M.J. Keenan. Joining me today is the man who is the walking, talking manifestation of recidivism, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Billy D. As an incorrectly self-proclaimed punk rocker, do you have any anarchists that stand out as being the most influential on your so-called music?”
Responding as the Billy D. Berger persona, Keenan singled out Dolly Parton. He then reflected on one of her well-known quotes.
“Dolly Parton. Yes, that Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton,” Billy D responded. “The wisest of all the angels once said, and I quote, ‘The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.’ Now, I reached a turning point in my life, a new level of acceptance, if you will, where I can freely admit that I do not have a fucking clue what she’s on about.”
The character went on to describe a personal realization tied to that reflection.
“And within that new moment of clarity, this acceptance of my chronic clueless cluelessness, I had a bit of an unexpected epiphany,” he continued. “Which is? No matter where I go, there I am. And usually the where of the there is back in county for another round of repeat offender rehabilitation. I am the physical manifestation of parole violator. On this we can both agree.”
Billy D. closed the segment with a second Parton quote and a self-deprecating twist.
“Now, before my chauffeurs arrive to escort me back to my inevitable spa appointment, I will leave you with one more quote from that angel of wisdom,” he said. “Dolly says, ‘I am not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I am not dumb, and I also know that I am not blonde.’ But here’s the thing: I, however, am both.”
Keenan’s tribute lands at a moment when the world is still reckoning with Parton’s passing. This adds a layer of poignancy to the sketch’s irreverent humor.
Dolly Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 80. Her death closed the chapter on a career that took her from a humble Tennessee log cabin to global stardom. It has also prompted an outpouring of tributes across the music industry, with fans and fellow artists revisiting her most memorable words and the legacy she built through decades of songwriting and performance.
Among the countless quotes being circulated in her memory, one of her most enduring lines has resurfaced widely: “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.” The remark, long emblematic of Parton’s self-aware wit, captures the same blend of humor and honesty that colors Billy D.’s tribute in Keenan’s sketch.
Parton also spoke candidly in past interviews about aging and mortality. Her reflections have taken on new weight since her passing. “I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of not living,” she once said, a sentiment that speaks to the philosophy of embracing life fully that she championed throughout her career.
She expressed a broader view on what comes after, saying, “I don’t think it’s the end of any of us. I think we’re recycled and if nothing else, we just go back into that great flow of divine energy.” That perspective on continuity and legacy resonates with the way artists like Keenan continue to invoke her words. Her voice remains present in new and unexpected creative contexts.
