f.DOLLY PARTON TO RECEIVE THE JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARD AT THE 2025 GOVERNORS AWARDS Los Angeles, California.f

DOLLY PARTON TO RECEIVE THE JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARD AT THE 2025 GOVERNORS AWARDS

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that Dolly Parton — legendary singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist — will receive the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2025 Governors Awards this November in Los Angeles. The honor recognizes individuals whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the film industry and made a lasting positive impact on the world.

In a statement from the Academy, President Janet Yang praised Dolly for her remarkable legacy of compassion and service:

“Beloved performer Dolly Parton exemplifies the spirit of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award through her unwavering dedication to charitable efforts, her generosity, and her belief in the power of art, community, and kindness.”

The award, which will be presented on November 16, 2025, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Ovation Hollywood, acknowledges not only Dolly’s contributions to entertainment but also her extraordinary humanitarian work — including her decades-long commitment to literacy, education, healthcare, and disaster relief.

For millions around the world, Dolly Parton is more than an entertainer — she’s a symbol of empathy, integrity, and generosity. Through her Dollywood Foundation, she launched the now globally celebrated Imagination Library, which has gifted over 230 million free books to children across multiple countries, inspiring a love of reading from an early age. Her efforts have helped families in rural and underserved communities access educational resources that might otherwise have been out of reach.

Dolly’s philanthropy extends far beyond literacy. She has supported a wide range of causes, from funding scholarships to providing disaster relief for victims of wildfires and floods. In 2020, her $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University helped fund critical research that contributed to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, earning her worldwide recognition not just as a musician but as a genuine humanitarian force.

Her compassion, however, has always been quietly consistent — woven through her art, her words, and her actions. “I just try to do what I can,” Dolly once said humbly. “If I see somebody in need, and I can help, that’s what I’m gonna do. You don’t have to be rich or famous to make a difference — you just have to care.”

Over the years, Dolly has also been a champion of inclusion and kindness. From her songs of empowerment like “9 to 5” and “Coat of Many Colors” to her long-standing advocacy for equality and understanding, she has used her platform to unite rather than divide — reminding the world that compassion and laughter can change lives just as powerfully as any melody.

The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, named after the Danish-American actor and humanitarian, is one of the highest honors bestowed by the Academy. Previous recipients have included Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, Paul Newman, and Danny Glover — all individuals recognized for using their fame and influence to advance humanitarian causes.

For Dolly Parton, this recognition comes as a celebration not only of her six-decade career across music and film but also of her lifelong belief in giving back. From her humble beginnings in rural Tennessee to her international superstardom, she has never lost sight of the values she was raised with — faith, family, hard work, and kindness.

The November ceremony promises to be a heartfelt celebration of an artist who has given the world more than unforgettable songs — she has given it hope. As the Academy’s announcement puts it, “Dolly Parton’s life and work embody the very essence of what it means to be a humanitarian: to lift others, to heal through art, and to make the world brighter with every note.”

With this honor, Dolly Parton joins a rare and distinguished group of individuals whose compassion has shaped lives far beyond the stage or screen — proving once again that her greatest legacy may not be her music, but her humanity.

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