Dolly Parton Donated To Vaccine Research Because She Knew A ‘Monster’ Was On The Rise

Country legend Dolly Parton said “knew something bad was on the rise,” during the pandemic and wanted to help how she could.

The singer donated $1 million to COVID-19 vaccine research at Vanderbilt University, which played a direct role in the development of the Moderna vaccine.  

“When the pandemic came out, I just felt kind of led to do something because I knew something bad was on the rise, and I just wanted to kind of help with that, so I donated to help with that,” Parton said during a radio interview. “Mine was a small part, of course.”

“I probably get a lot more credit than I deserve, but I was happy to be part of that and to be able to try to stop something in its tracks that’s really become such a monster for all of us,” she continued. “So I was happy to do that. My heart just kind of leads me into where I’m supposed go and what I’m supposed to do at the time.”

Parton acknowledged her donation in November 2020, when the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund was credited in the New England Journal of Medicine in the publication of the vaccine’s preliminary report of 95% effectiveness. 

“I’m just happy that anything I do can help somebody else,” she told “Today” show hosts. “When I donated the money to the COVID[-19] fund I just wanted it to do good and evidently, it is! Let’s just hope we can find a cure real soon.”

“I’m sure many millions of dollars from many people went into that,” Parton went on. “But I just felt so proud to have been part of that little seed money that will hopefully grow into something great and help to heal this world.”

“I’m a very proud girl today to know I had anything at all to do with something that’s going to help us through this crazy pandemic,” she concluded.

Marie Finn