Among Parton s philanthropic efforts, she founded a library designed for children under 5 to improve their literacy skills. She has also been vocal about COVID-19 efforts, participating earlier this month in a fundraiser for nonprofit arts organization Center Theater Group in Los Angeles, which has been out of operation since March due to the pandemic.
Last year, she created a YouTube series called
Goodnight With Dolly, which provided a distraction for children in this time of unrest. Parton also made a million-dollar donation to Vanderbilt University to help them develop the Moderna vaccine.
In thanking the Tennessee legislature for their bill and desire to erect the statue, Parton wrote in her message that she is honored and humbled.