Following a promising announcement by pharmaceutical company Moderna of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, investigative journalists have uncovered a partial source of the vaccine’s research funding: gay icon and American goddess Dolly Parton.
CNBC reports that Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s research to combat Covid-19, which included vaccine development. Parton announced in April, via her Instagram account, that she had made the donation in the name of her friend, Dr. Naji Abumrad.
“My longtime friend, Dr. Naji Abumrad, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards research of the coronavirus for a cure,” Parton wrote. “I am making a $1 million donation to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.”
Related: Dolly Parton-inspired rooftop bar opens at Nashville hotel
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Moderna’s vaccine, which has yet to receive final FDA approval or peer review, showed 94% efficacy in clinical trials.
Now 74, Dolly Parton has a long history of philanthropy and social consciousness. In 2016, for example, she spearheaded a telethon for victims of the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires, raising a reported $9 million in the process. Earlier this year, Parton also made subtle jab for the #BlackLivesMatter movement, taking to Instagram to say, “I understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen. And of course Black lives matter. Do we think our little White a**es are the only ones that matter? No!”
We hope Joe Biden is paying attention. It’s high time Ms. Parton received the Presidential Medal of Honor.
okiloki
She truly is a light. Bless her and hope we all can be more selfless.
fur_hunter
You are so correct. She has been a huge support for the Gay Community for a very long time.
Matthewnow
Miss Dolly’s light shines brighter every day.
fur_hunter
I LOVE Dolly Parton. It’s because of her, I got hooked on Country Music. (Long sad story.) I have ALWAYS applauded her for standing up for the LGBTQ Community. SHE is a TRUE American. LOVE YOU, DOLLY!!!!!!! I wish her long life and continued success.
fur_hunter
Someone, PLEASE explain to me how my comment above Needs to go to ‘MODERATION’????? I posted the EXACT comment above over an hour ago and here is the posting beneath it: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
WHAT THE F UCK IS THAT ALL ABOUT??? Tell me WHAT THE F UCK is wrong with my comment post?? A bunch of A SS HOLES working this website.
JromeGervais09
What was said, because I don’t see anything derogatory. Is there a troll on-sight?
JromeGervais09
Dolly is an American Icon and I love her. She deserves the National Medal of Arts and also the Kennedy Center Honors.
fur_hunter
Jrome. What I said was exactly what I said in my post that starts off with, ‘I LOVE Dolly Parton.’ but in my original post I have three periods between the word ‘SHE’ and ‘is’. THAT is the only difference. Guess they don’t like multiple periods between words. It is still there for me to see but: Your comment is awaiting moderation. is still there. I’m sure you can’t see that post. It’s the very first one before Okiloki’s post.
Creamsicle
She did get a Kennedy Center Award! There’s a really cute interview she gave where she talks about her she was nervous for that ceremony and considered toning down her flashy wardrobe until she realized “Well they’re giving me this award for being me, so I’m gonna dress like me!”
She’s a delight and just an exemplary human being. Her music is catchy classic country, and her Imagination Library Foundation is really doing God’s work. The foundation will send any child a free book every month from birth to 5-years old. It’s amazing literacy work and comes from her own love of books, and memories of begging and pleading for books during her own childhood.
bucktucker
Dolly Parton is a phonomenal human being and most definitely deserves the Presidential Medal of Honor! The world is truly a better place with her. An absolute Angel!
fur_hunter
Buck. You are so correct.
Heywood Jablowme
Queerty made a mistake there – the Medal of Honor is a military award, they mean the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
And yeah Dolly deserves it much more than, say, Rush Limbaugh! Trump will probably give it to the My Pillow guy for Xmas.
jimmypalmieri
She is what we all should be. I love her.
missvamp
Gotta love Dolly!
Jim
Check out “Dolly Parton, Those Were The Days”. Although it’s all covers I think it gives the greatest insight into who this woman is.
Yes she deserves the Presidential Medal of Freedom like a couple of decades ago!!
footwork61
To paraphrase Ben Franklin: Dolly is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
Man About Town
You can find on youtube an interview Larry King did with her. At one point he asks her if people challenge her on her status as a gay icon and how she reconciles it with her faith. She said “I just tell them, if you’re such a pure Christian as you claim you are, what are you doing judging other people? It’s not your place to do that; it’s God’s place, and you’re not God!”
Charlie in Charge
I am very Thankful for Dolly.