Dolly Parton Twice Turned Down the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump Administration

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Dolly Parton revealed in a new interview that she turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice when it was offered to her by the Trump administration.

The legendary country star explained on Tuesday’s Today show that she had to decline the award due to personal reasons.

“I couldn’t accept it because my husband was ill and then they asked me again about it and I wouldn’t travel because of the COVID,” she said.

Parton added that she has since heard from President Joe Biden about the award, but remains hesitant to accept it.

“Now I feel like if I take it, I’ll be doing politics, so I’m not sure,” said the singer. “But I don’t work for those awards. It’d be nice but I’m not sure that I even deserve it. But it’s a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it.”

Parton has been an avid philanthropist for several decades. Last November, the news emerged that the country star donated $1 million to help fund Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.

The following month, Barack Obama said during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that not giving Parton the Medal of Freedom during his time in office was a “mistake.”

“Actually, that was a screw-up,” said the former president. “I’m surprised. She deserves one. I’ll call Biden.”