Dolly Parton has been given a $100 million prize from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The country music icon and philanthropist is the recipient of the billionaire’s Bezos Courage & Civility Award, which honours leaders who ‘pursue solutions with courage and civility’.
Bezos, who also owns space rocket company Blue Origin, announced the award on Friday along with his partner, news anchor Lauren Sanchez.
On Instagram, she hailed the 9 To 5 hitmaker as ‘a woman who gives with her heart and leads with love and compassion in every aspect of her work’.
She added: ‘We can’t wait to see all the good that you’re going to do with this $100 million award.’
In a video from the ceremony shared online, Dolly said, ‘Wow! Did you say $100 million?’
She continued: ‘I think people who are in a position to help should put their money where their heart is. I will do my best to do good things with this money.’
The 76-year-old star – whose all-time classic songs include, I Will Always Love You, Jolene and many more over the decades – has been a longtime philanthropist.
She donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University’s Medical Center to help develop a vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bezos’ award was started in 2001, with prizes first going to activist Van Jones, who served as founding CEO of the REFORM Alliance and Dream Corps, and chef and humanitarian Jose Andres, who established World Central Kitchen, which provides food in the immediate aftermath of disasters.
Meanwhile, Dolly still manages to stay relatable, particularly after being questioned on who she was last starstruck by, and telling People Magazine: ‘I’ve been starstruck a lot lately.
‘I’ve been talking to Sir Elton John, Mick Jagger and Debbie Harry. Every time I speak to one of them, it’s just such a thrill.’
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