Dolly Parton gets $100 million award from Jeff Bezos

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By Phoebe Egoroff

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As if Dolly Parton couldn't get any better... Now Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, has awarded her with a $100 million grant to continue her decades-long commitment to philanthropic work.

The '9 to 5' hitmaker was presented with the Bezos Courage and Civility Award, which enables her to donate the massive sum to any charity or charities she sees fit.

Bezos' longtime partner, Lauren Sanchez, posted a short clip to her Instagram account of her and Bezos presenting Parton with the grant, writing in the caption: "Jeff and I are so proud to share that we have a new Bezos Courage and Civility Award winner - a woman who gives with her heart and leads with love and compassion in every aspect of her work."

"We can't wait to see all the good that you're going to do with this $100 million award [Dolly Parton]," she added.

Check out the incredible moment below: 

Later, the 76-year-old then posted her gratitude on Twitter, stating: "I try to put my money where my heart is. I will do my best to do good things with this money [...] Thank you."

The country music legend - who was inducted into Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 - has spent decades giving back to her community in numerous ways.

During the pandemic alone, the Tennessee native donated upwards of $1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help fund vaccine research. At the time, she told the BBC: "I just felt so proud to have been part of that little seed money that will hopefully grow into something great and help to heal this world."

"I'm a very proud girl today to know I had anything at all to do with something that's going to help us through this crazy pandemic," the legendary singer added.

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Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, awarded Dolly Parton with a $100 million grant to continue her decades-long commitment to philanthropic work. Credit: TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy

In 1988, Parton founded The Dollywood Foundation and subsequently The Imagination Library, which enables children across the globe to have access to books, CNN detailed. In Tennessee, the 'Jolene' singer has additionally founded a $15,000 scholarship fund - named The Dolly Parton Scholarship - aimed at providing much-needed tuition money to people attending college in the state.

Fans of the country star have applauded her philanthropic efforts, with one person tweeting: "Dolly, you are a national treasure. Congratulations."

"I feel like maybe this should be a yearly thing, I fully trust Dolly to put money into the right places in order to help those in need, She has a long history of being a 'good person' on a level other only pretend to accomplish," someone else added.

A third user chimed in: "Congrats! This is the kind of thing the world needs more of right here, to help make a difference, and I know you certainly will do so with that honorary award for sure!"

Bezos has previously stated, via CNN, that the recipients of the grant can, "give it all to their own charity [...] Or they can share the wealth. It is up to them."

Featured image credit: TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy