Country icon Dolly Parton has been confirmed as a recipient of one of the most prestigious honors in entertainment: the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. This accolade will be presented to her at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards—her first Oscar.
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award is presented to individuals in the film industry whose work has gone beyond performance to make a significant charitable impact. Parton joins a meritorious list of recipients celebrated not only for their artistic achievements but also for generosity, advocacy, and humanitarian leadership.
Dolly Parton’s philanthropic legacy is vast. Through her book gifting program, she has donated millions of books to children across the U.S., fostering literacy and education through the Dollywood Foundation. Additionally, her Imagination Library program continues to deliver free, age-appropriate books to preschool-aged children—regardless of family income—making early literacy a reality for communities in all 50 states and beyond.
Over the years, Parton has also supported causes including childhood health initiatives, disaster relief, and COVID-19 vaccine research. Her 2020 donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center helped launch a research program to produce monoclonal antibodies and nasal spray vaccines.
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Her recognition at the Governors Awards underscores how her off-screen contributions resonate across industries and communities. Though best known for chart-topping hits and memorable roles in films like 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, this honor reinforces Parton’s enduring legacy as a compassionate humanitarian.
The Governors Awards ceremony is scheduled for November 16, 2025. Alongside Parton, the Academy will present Honorary Oscars to Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen, and Wynn Thomas—acknowledging decades of creative excellence and public service.
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With this honor, Dolly Parton receives an Oscar not for performance, but for her extraordinary generosity—an homage to the songstress whose reach extends far beyond the stage or screen.