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Since Betty White died in 2021, we have very few National Treasures left. You know, those people who are universally beloved and even the worst internet troll can find something at least decent to say about them. There is, of course, Tom Hanks. Americans see the Toy Story (1995) and two-time Academy Award winner as one of the few good human beings left in the world. His reputation of just being an all-around nice guy gives the rest of us hope that there are more like him in the world. And if someone has something bad to say about Tom Hanks, please keep it to yourself.
Credit: Disney
And then there is National Treasure Dolly Parton. In her lifetime, the country music legend has given away millions of dollars to help poor students in her home, Sevier County, Tennessee, and she has given away millions of books through the Dollywood Foundation. Through her foundation, she helped lower the dropout rate from 35 percent to six, a fantastic accomplishment for anyone.
Dolly Parton has also raised millions after wildfires and floods devastated East Tennessee. And she even set up a bald eagle sanctuary near Dollywood to help the endangered symbol of America. If that were everything she had done, Dolly Parton would have more than solidified herself as a National Treasure. But wait, there’s more.
In 2017, Parton donated $1 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in honor of her niece, who was treated for leukemia at that hospital. She followed that up with a $ 1 million donation to coronavirus research at Vanderbilt University, which helped fund Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. She followed that up with a third $1 million donation to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville in June 2022, this time aimed at helping pediatric infectious disease research.
But that middle donation has gotten Dolly Parton into some hot water with the anti-vaxer crowd, and they decided to let their displeasure be known during her halftime performance on Thanksgiving.
Dolly Parton’s Thanksgiving Performance
At 77, Dolly Parton took the stage at halftime of the Washington Commanders/Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving. Parton ran through her hits Jolene and 9 to 5 while wearing a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader uniform in front of more than 20 million viewers. She ended her set with a cover of Queen’s We Are the Champions.
But while Parton was crushing it on stage, anti-vaxers took to X to criticize her for funding the research into the modern vaccine, which saved countless lives. However, there was no reasoning with them.
Five Times August singer Brad Skistimas wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
Reminder Dolly Parton helped fund the moderna vaccine shot, changed her famous song Jolene to “Vaccine” and called those who wouldn’t get it cowards and “chicken squat” – I get a lot of people have a soft spot for her but she’s no better than the rest of the big pharma shills.
At least Dolly Parton has done something with her life for the betterment of others. That's better than what anti-vaxxers can say.
— David Young M.D. (@davideyoungmd) November 24, 2023
Skistimas’ attack and attempt to get the country music legend canceled did not go unnoticed by the internet, as thousands jumped to her defense, including many in the medical community who used scientific evidence to disprove many of the allegations that were leveled against Parton, including that thousands of people lost their lives to the vaccine, a claim for which there is no factual evidence to support.
One fan came to her defense by saying:
Dolly Parton champions LBGTQ causes, funded COVID vaccine research, her Imagination Library program—which provides monthly free books for children ages 0-5—includes books that makes the alt-right livid. Dolly Parton lives her faith daily. Nothing right wing about her.
Dolly Parton Disney Connection
Dolly Parton founded Dollywood in Tennessee, which regularly competes with Walt Disney World for the best theme park and attractions in America. Despite being the Walt Disney of Dollywood, Parton also had deep ties with the Walt Disney Company.
Emily Osment and Miley Cyrus are Lilly and Hannah on Hannah Montana. Credit: D23 / Disney
Parton also started in the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana alongside her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus. Parton toured with Miley’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus, in the 1990s when he first rose to fame in the country music world. The two would remain close, and eventually, Parton and Miley would work together on a duet from Parton’s newest album.
So, when Dolly Parton isn’t funding cancer research or the Covid 19 vaccine, she runs one of America’s most successful theme parks or records a new album with 40 songs. She truly is one of our National Treasures.
This post is originally appeared on Disney Fanatic.
I feel that Dolly deserves to be anyone she wants to be. She the most professional people who ever set foot in Tennessee. She gives and gives tell you think there’s nothing else to give but she raised her head and still gives. It like she said that when I grow up I want to be a star and she is that stars that shine the best in this way of life. It don’t matter what she does there are people who are jealous of her but it’s the own fault. Get off you ass and see who’s better you or her? And her is the best. So people grow up and carry your own weight and live what time we have left to live. I’m proud of her for all she has done for millions of people. No one else can say that. But I do.