Dolly Parton helped fund Moderna's coronavirus vaccine research
The legendary country singer donated $1 million in April, and that money helped pay for Moderna's promising vaccine.
- Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year" award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
Dolly Parton, shown here when she was MusiCares Person of the Year in 2019, is always our person of the year.
If you're feeling a little more hopeful these days thanks to promising news about coronavirus vaccines, queue up a Dolly Parton playlist and give the famous country singer a little thanks. That's right, the musician famous for Jolene, Coat of Many Colors, 9 to 5, and numerous other hits is actually helping the world heal. Parton, a Tennessee native, donated $1 million to Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The medical center then helped develop Moderna's vaccine, which the company says is 94.5% effective against COVID-19 in preliminary findings.
Parton is even mentioned in the New England Journal of Medicine. In a report about the vaccine, the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund is listed as a supporter of Vanderbilt's research.
In April, Parton tweeted, "My longtime friend Dr. Naji Abumrad, who's been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards research of the coronavirus for a cure." She followed up by writing, "I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations."
I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) April 1, 2020
On Tuesday, as news of the singer's involvement spread, Parton herself responded, in her typical modest way.
"When I donated the money to the Covid fund I just wanted it to do good and evidently, it is!" Parton wrote. "Let's just hope we can find a cure real soon."
When I donated the money to the Covid fund I just wanted it to do good and evidently, it is! Let’s just hope we can find a cure real soon. pic.twitter.com/dQgDWexO0C
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) November 17, 2020
And her fans responded with thanks and excitement. "Go Dolly!" wrote one Twitter user. "Ethical, responsible and a humanitarian through and through -- such an inspiration! This positive energy is just what we need!"
Said another, "Dolly Parton is just an amazing woman. Gives books to underprivileged children, wrote some of the greatest songs ever and now helping to end a pandemic." (Parton's Dolly Parton's Imagination Library gives free books to children around the world.)
Go Dolly @DollyParton - ethical, responsible and and a humanitarian through and through - such an inspiration! This positive energy is just what we need! pic.twitter.com/lFDSX101Jt
— Liz Free FCCT FRSA (@LizAMFree) November 17, 2020
Dolly Parton is just an amazing woman. Gives books to under privileged children, wrote some of the greatest songs ever and now helping to end a pandemic
— Kieran Jennings (@KieranJ_1979) November 17, 2020
The world needs more Dolly Partons. What a nicer, friendlier and safer place it would be. Thanks Dolly.
— Gary (@CampbellGazz) November 17, 2020
Thank you for your Tennessee Mountain Vaccine! :)
— Jason MacNeil (@kingjmusicman) November 17, 2020
