Dolly Parton just received her first Oscar, but she wasn’t there to accept it in person.
The Queen of Country was presented with an Honorary Oscar at the 16th Governors Awards on Sunday, November 16, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. However, Parton, 79, expressed her gratitude from a video she recorded in her home in Nashville, according to People magazine.
And the reason for her absence could partly be due to her health, as she revealed last month that she moved back to her hometown to be closer to friends and family, where she’s “having a few treatments here and there.”
Nevertheless, the Jolene hitmaker was ecstatic as she accepted the award. Standing next to the iconic golden statuette, Parton, who matched in a golden top, thanked the Academy for the honour.
“I grew up in a house with 12 kids. Now, that alone teaches you how important sharing is. Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t have that much to share. But my mom and daddy showed me — by example — that the more you give, the more blessings come your way,” she reflected.
“I’ve tried my whole life to live by their example, and I’ve been blessed more than I ever dreamed possible. Like this award tonight — The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences,” Parton continued.
The 11-time Grammy winner added, “It’s an honour just to be considered… I don’t take this kind of thing lightly. It makes me want to dream up new ways to help lift people up. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be here for? So from my heart to yours, I truly thank you.”
Dolly Parton’s latest health update
Dolly Parton sparked concern for her health last month after her sister publicly asked for prayers for her, shortly after which Paton cancelled her Las Vegas Residency.
However, Parton swiftly put her fans’ minds at ease by sharing a health update video to her Instagram on October 8, explaining that her husband Carl Dean’s declining health and ultimate death over the summer made her neglect her health.
“I did have to cancel some things so I could be closer to home…where I’m having a few treatments here and there,” she explained, before adding, “But I’m not dying!”
What is an Honorary Oscar?
An Honorary Oscar is not the same as a traditional Oscar; though they’re both presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Honorary Oscar celebrates people not just for what they’ve done on screen or in the studio, but for how they’ve shaped the industry behind the scenes.
In addition to Parton, who helped define country music, Tom Cruise also received the Award for his decades-long contribution to Hollywood.
According to the Academy, the Honorary Oscar is a statuette given “to honour extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences in any discipline, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”
