Dolly Parton BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

The past several days have been extraordinary for Dolly Parton. The biggest headline is that she was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2025 Governors Awards, making this her very first Oscar after decades of contributions to music, film, and especially to charity. She accepted the honor by heartfelt video message from her home in Nashville, sharing gratitude and promising to “dream up new ways to help lift people up.” The award was presented by her friend Lily Tomlin, and Dolly wore a sparkling gold dress in the video that had social media buzzing, with People Magazine posting the clip and calling her “Star of the Show.” The Academy’s award recognized her philanthropic work including the Dollywood Foundation and the Imagination Library, with major media like E! News and the Oscars’ own channels highlighting her moving acceptance as a milestone in her legendary career.

Her appearance at the Governors Awards was especially meaningful because it was her first major public statement since health rumors began swirling in October. Speculation caught fire when her sister Freida posted that she’d been “up all night praying,” which led some fans to fear the worst. Dolly herself took to Instagram to shut down reports and, with her trademark humor, told everyone “I ain’t dead yet,” even as she acknowledged she’d postponed her Las Vegas residency to prioritize recovery from health issues, reportedly due to kidney stones according to People Magazine and confirmed by her manager. Parton’s representatives say she’s “getting better every day,” resting at home, and already decorating for the holidays. She has continued light work remotely and made it clear she is not retiring, only slowing down briefly as doctors advised.

Fans continued to flood her posts with support, especially after she addressed the rumors and gave assurance she’ll be ready for “more big adventures.” In a new interview with People, she promoted her latest memoir, Star of the Show: My Life on Stage, reflecting on her six decades of hits and declaring, “I feel like I’m just getting started.” Meanwhile, “Threads: My Songs in Symphony,” an innovative concert series featuring Dolly’s voice and storytelling on screen, played to sold-out audiences with orchestral arrangements.

To summarize, in a single whirlwind week, Dolly Parton won an Oscar for humanitarianism, went viral for her reassuring spirit, quieted speculation about her health, promoted her new book, and advanced her legacy project with a major concert event. Accordingly, outlets like Entertainment Now and People are calling this a defining chapter in her ongoing career renaissance, showing once again that after nearly 80 years, Dolly remains an unstoppable cultural force.

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