Dolly Parton twice rejected the highest US civil honor when Donald Trump offered it – but is not sure she will accept Joe Biden’s presidential medal of freedom, as it may seem political to do so.
“I could not accept it because my husband was ill,” the 75-year-old country musician told NBC’s Today or Trump’s first offer. “Then they asked me about it again and I would not travel because of the Covid.”
In April last year, Parton donated $ 1 million to help research and development of the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19.
Then she told the BBC: ‘I know for sure many, many millions of dollars from many people have joined it, but I was so proud to be part of the little seed money that will hopefully grow into something big and help to cure it world. Lord knows we need it! ”
In an interview with NBC, she said she had heard of the Biden government, but added: ‘Now I feel like I’ll take politics if I take it, so I’m not sure.
‘I’m not working for the awards. It’s gonna be nice, but I’m not sure I deserve it. But it’s a nice compliment for people to think I deserve it. ‘
Parton’s charitable work extends far beyond the fight against Covid, including work to promote child literacy. She told Today that she’m just glad that everything I do can help someone else, and when I donate the money to the Covid fund, I just want it to do well. This is obvious. ‘
Despite a difficult start to the US vaccination campaign, the Moderna shot and another from Pfizer BioNTech are in circulation as Biden tries to tackle a problem bequeathed by Trump. On Monday morning, the US recorded nearly 26.3 million cases of coronavirus and more than 443,000 deaths. Biden said the final death toll could reach 660,000.
The presidential medal of liberty is the highest American civil honor. Trump gave it to one musician, Elvis Presley, but made headlines late in his term by donating it to close political allies Devin Nunes and Jim Jordan, Republican congressmen who supported the president through accusations and other scandals.
In November, Stephen Colbert, host of CBS, addressed former President Barack Obama, who honored musicians including James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen, “How did Dolly Parton not win a presidential medal of freedom?”
Obama said, “This is a mistake. I’m shocked. It was actually a screw, I’m surprised. I think I assumed she got one already and it was wrong. I’m surprised she deserves one. ”
Obama said he would “call Biden”. Looks like he did it.