Dolly Parton shared an unexpected update with fans on Thursday, revealing that a children’s hospital located in East Tennessee would be named in her honor. The 80-year-old looked incredible as she addressed fans directly, while sporting a glamorous white jumpsuit complete with gold detailing and butterfly motifs.
Dolly added a pop of color with her blue and pink eyeshadow, as she explained her latest philanthropic project and what it means for children and families in the area.
“I’ve always believed that every child deserves a fair chance to grow up healthy, hopeful and surrounded with love. That belief is what brought me together with the incredible folks at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital,” she began in her message.
“For nearly 90 years, their teams have provided compassionate and talented care. They see children not just as patients, but as precious lives. Each with a story and a future,” Dolly continued.
“I am so excited to share, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is becoming…guess what? Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. Yay!”
The “Jolene” singer later shared in a statement that she was “honored to stand alongside this hospital and do my part to help bring more hope, more comfort and more healing to children and families.”
“Being fortunate to have grown up in the mountains of East Tennessee, I learned early on what it means to take care of one another,” she added. “Every child deserves world-class care, wrapped in kindness and love. Fans took to the comment section to share the love, with one writing: “Anyone else sob upon this news? Well-deserved honor,” while another added: “Currently blubbering.”
Learn more about Dolly’s recent health battle below…
“Dolly you are the best of us,” said another fan, while a fourth chimed in: “We do not deserve her,” and another shared: “Let’s all try to be more like Dolly.”
The hospital originally opened in 1937 and is the region’s primary provider of pediatric services. The President and CEO, Matt Schaefer, shared how meaningful the new move was for the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital in a statement. “This is more than a name change,” he explained. “With Dolly’s support, we are strengthening our mission to deliver world-class pediatric care to families, ensuring every child who walks through our doors receives the treatment they deserve.”
© Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesDolly is one of the most prolific celebrity philanthropists and has long focused on making life better for children worldwide. The country superstar never had children of her own, yet is a loving aunt to her nieces and nephews. She shared with Saga magazine that one of the reasons why she never welcomed kids with her late husband, Carl Dean, was due to her intense performance schedule.
© Instagram“When you’re a young couple, you think you’re going to have kids, but it just wasn’t one of those burning things for me,” she said. “I had my career and my music, and I was travelling. If I’d had kids, I’d have stayed at home with them. I’m sure and worried myself to death about them.”
“I always say God didn’t let me have children so that all kids could be mine,” she added.
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