Photo: Getty Images
Dolly Parton believes she gets “a lot more credit than I deserve” for her donation to help fund Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine.
Last year, Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville to help fund research for the vaccine, receiving huge praise from fans. She encouraged others to make donations if they were able to do so. Parton was also among some of the biggest country stars to donate auction items for a virtual auction to help raise money for COVID-19 relief.
On Monday (August 16), Parton said in an interview with Absolute Radio Country, a British digital radio station, that “…I just felt led to do something because I knew something bad was on the rise and I just wanted to kind of help with that, so I donated to help with that.” She later added: “Mine was a small part of course, but I probably get a lot more credit than I deserve but I was happy to be part of that and to be able to try to stop something in its tracks that’s really become such a monster for all of us. I was happy to do that.”
Parton got “a dose of her own medicine” when she got the Moderna vaccine in March. In a video shared on social media, Parton — like a Massachusetts professor once covered — reworked the lyrics to “Jolene,” singing, Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine. I’m beggin’ of you, please don’t hesitate. Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine. ‘Cause once you dead, that’s a bit too late."