Singer Dolly Parton is sharing why she did not receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump.
She said on the “Today” show Tuesday that she turned down receiving the medal from Trump twice.
“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 also revealed that she has heard from President Joe Biden about the award as well.
“Now I feel like if I take it, I’ll be doing politics, so I’m not sure,” she said.
The “Jolene” singer continued, “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 also spoke about her first-ever Super Bowl advertisement on the “Today” show:
https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1356611437376978947
Parton previously donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University to help fund coronavirus research, as IJR reported. The research helped make the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Former President Barack Obama was asked by Stephen Colbert how he did not award Parton with the award during his presidency, as IJR also reported.
“That’s a mistake. I’m shocked,” Obama said, adding, “Actually, that was a screwup. I’m surprised. I think I assumed that she had already gotten one, and that was incorrect. I’m surprised. She deserves one. I’ll call Biden.”