Dolly Parton can add Oscar winner to her resumé. The country superstar will be honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 16th annual Governors Awards on Nov. 16.
Videos by American Songwriter
The distinction is awarded to “an individual in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry by promoting human welfare and contributing to rectifying inequities.”
Parton has certainly done that, and is now being recognized for her decades-long humanitarian efforts. She has founded various charitable and philanthropic organizations.
Among them is the Dollywood Foundation, which was created to inspire the children of East Tennessee to achieve educational success.
The foundation’s signature program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, has provided children with 285 million books. Eventually, it evolved into an international movement.
“Beloved performer Dolly Parton exemplifies the spirit of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award through her unwavering dedication to charitable efforts,” Academy President Janet Yang said in a press release.
Parton was nominated for an Original Song Academy Award two times—at the 1980 ceremony for “Nine to Five” from the film of the same name and at the 2005 ceremony for “Travelin’ Thru” from Transamerica.
Dolly Parton Joins Three Other Honorary Oscar Winners
Parton isn’t the only person slated to receive an honorary Oscar this year. Choreographer and actor Debbie Allen, actor Tom Cruise, and production designer Wynn Thomas will be presented with Academy Honorary Awards.
Those statuettes are given “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences in any discipline, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”
“This year’s Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact,” Yang said. “The Academy’s Board of Governors is honored to recognize these brilliant artists.”
The four Oscar statuettes will be presented at the Academy’s 16th Governors Awards event on Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.