Dolly Parton reveals she turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice

Dolly Parton
(Image credit: Valerie Macon/Getty Images)

If there's one thing that unites the past three presidents, it may be a strong desire to ensure Dolly Parton gets the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The legendary singer spoke with Today this week and revealed that former President Donald Trump's administration attempted to give her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, not once but twice. But Parton, who famously helped fund Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine research, had to turn it down both times, she explained.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.