Country music superstar Dolly Parton is partly responsible for the latest promising coronavirus vaccine. Parton gave a million dollars to help fund the research.
As the singer has aged, she’s shifted her focus more to philanthropy than songwriting. And she’s been just as successful.
Related: Will a Dolly Parton statue replace a Confederate memorial in Tennessee’s capitol?
Parton gave the money to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, specifically for coronavirus research.
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“My longtime friend Dr. Naji Abumrad, who’s been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards research of the coronavirus for a cure,” Parton tweeted in April.
“I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.”
Moderna announced on Monday that their vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing transmission and credited Parton in a report, saying the research was supported by the “Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund (Vanderbilt University Medical Center).”
Fans quickly noted the acknowledgment as social media flooded with goodwill for the singer and her history of charitable giving.
“In 2020, Dolly Parton’s stood up for Black Lives Matter and put $1 million towards a Covid vaccine, and the year’s not over yet,” music critic Simon Price, tweeted. “There’s a strong argument that America should give up the whole ‘democracy’ thing as a bad idea now, and just make Dolly Parton queen of everything.”
I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) April 1, 2020
In 2020, Dolly Parton's stood up for Black Lives Matter and put $1 million towards a Covid vaccine, and the year's not over yet.
There's a strong argument that America should give up the whole 'democracy' thing as a bad idea now, and just make Dolly Parton queen of everything.
— Simon Price (@simon_price01) November 17, 2020
Why are we not discussing the fact that the vaccine with the good news this morning was partly funded by Dolly Parton?
Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vacciiiiiiiiiiiiiine
— Jonathan Katz, hoping for pumpkin snacks (@JonathanPKatz) November 16, 2020
I couldn't resist trying it immediately, though I had to sing a bit more quietly than I typically would—for this tune in particular—because my family's all asleep right now. But you can see it scans, good enough for country at least! pic.twitter.com/joQL29e7Uk
— Ryan Cordell aka Ryan Cordrell (@ryancordell) November 17, 2020
Dolly Parton is one of humanity's greatest treasures. https://t.co/L4AFfwW0yz
— Dave Hogg (@stareagle) November 17, 2020
