Dolly Parton has plenty of silver and gold to give away to charity thanks to Jeff Bezos.
The Amazon founder has honored the country singer with his Courage and Civility Award and awarded her with $100 million to be distributed to charities as she sees fit.
"What she's done for kids and literacy and so many other things is just incredible," Bezos said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Parton founded the Imagination Library, which supplies free books to kids under five; since 1995, it has gifted over 190 million books, according to its website. She also helped fund research that led to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine and in 2022 donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for studying pediatric infectious diseases, among other charitable efforts. Parton was named one of the 2021 People of the Year by People and was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"When people are in a position to help, you should help, and I know that I've always said I try to put my money where my heart is," Parton said, adding, "I will do my best to do good things with this money."
Speaking with CNN, Bezos praised Parton as "unifying," explaining he chose her for the award because, "Look at what she's done and how she's led her life. And the way she's done it, these bold things, always with civility and kindness." Bezos also told CNN he intends to give away the majority of his wealth to charity during his lifetime.
-
Should you downsize for retirement? Here's what to consider.The Explainer Moving to a smaller place may seem easier, but there are also some real benefits to staying put
-
What to do if you want to move but don't want to give up your low mortgage ratethe explainer 30-year mortgage rates are currently averaging 7% — and homeowners who secured rates closer to 3% during the pandemic are reluctant to sell their homes
-
Crossword: September 1, 2025The Week's daily crossword
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclubSpeed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, StalloneSpeed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's viewSpeed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talkSpeed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Jeff in Venice: a 'triumph of tackiness'?In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
Sinking feeling: Venice braces for the Bezos weddingIn the Spotlight The Amazon founder and his fiancée will be met with 'noisy' protests when they cruise into the historic city aboard their $500m superyacht
