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


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.
"I got offered the freedom award from the Trump administration," Parton revealed. "I couldn't accept it because my husband was ill. Then they asked me again about it, and I wouldn't travel because of the COVID."
Subscribe to 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.
Former President Barack Obama has admitted he regrets not awarding Parton the Presidential Medal of Freedom while he was in office and even told Stephen Colbert he'd "call Biden" about it. And in fact, Parton told Today she's already heard from President Biden. But it seems the 46th president, too, could come up short in an effort to honor her, as Parton explained she might not actually want the Medal of Freedom at all.
"Now I feel like if I take it, I'll be doing politics," she said. "So I'm not sure. I don't work for those awards. It'd be nice, but I'm not sure that I even deserve it, but that's a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
How will the new tax deductions on auto loans work?
the explainer Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a tax deduction on auto loan interest — but eligibility for the tax break is limited
-
Is Trump actually going to prosecute Obama for 'treason'?
Today's Big Question Or is this just a distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal?
-
5 best movie sequels of all time
The Week Recommends The second time is only sometimes as good as the first
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada