Dolly Parton on helping fund vaccine development: ‘I knew something bad was on the rise’

Dolly Parton in an interview this week recalled what drove her to take action in the development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.

“I knew something bad was on the rise and I just wanted to kind of help with that,” the country singer told the U.K.’s Absolute Radio on Tuesday regarding her $1 million financial contribution.

She added, “Mine was a small part, of course. I probably get a lot more credit than I deserve. I was happy to be a part of that and to be able to try to stop something in its tracks that’s really become just such a monster for all of us.”

Parton in March posted a video to her Instagram of her getting the vaccine she helped fund, urging others to do so as well. She even changed the lyrics to her iconic song “Jolene” to fit the occasion.

“Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I’m begging of you please don’t hesitate. Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, ’cause once you’re dead, then that’s a bit too late,” she sang in the video.

The “9 to 5” singer first announced her involvement with the Moderna vaccine development in April 2020. In a tweet, Parton said a friend of hers who worked at Vanderbilt informed her they were “making some exciting advancements towards research of the coronavirus for a cure.”

She shared her monetary pledge, writing, “I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.”