Dolly Parton sent her like to the Academy after skipping the 2025 Governors Awards on Sunday, November 16.
Parton, 79, was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award on Sunday night but didn’t accept her win in person on the Los Angeles ceremony. Her 9 to five costar Lily Tomlin stepped out on stage to present the award before Parton appeared via video from her home in Nashville.
“Well hi, everybody! I wanna thank my good buddy Lily Tomlin for presenting me with this award. Hi Lily, I like you,” Parton began. “I also need to thank the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for this great honor.”
Parton — whose gold outfit perfectly matched her recent trophy — recalled her upbringing “in a house with 12 kids” and the teachings she learned along her rise to superstardom.
“Now, that alone teaches you ways necessary sharing is. Don’t get me flawed, 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 continued. “I’ve tried my whole life to live by their example and I’ve been blessed greater than I ever dreamed possible. Like this award tonight — The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences. It’s an honor simply to be considered … I don’t take this type of thing flippantly.”
Parton called the popularity “the blessing of a lifetime,” adding, “It makes me need to dream up recent ways to assist lift people up. Isn’t that what we’re speculated to be here for? So from my heart to yours, I actually thanks.”
Sunday’s award marked the primary Academy win for Parton, who has previously been nominated twice for Best Original Song.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed in September that Parton would miss the ceremony despite her honor. Earlier that month, Parton postponed a series of live shows in Las Vegas as a result of her health.
“I would like the fans and public to listen to directly from me that, unfortunately, I might want to postpone my upcoming Las Vegas live shows,” she wrote via Instagram on the time. “As a lot of , I’ve been coping with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I will need to have a number of procedures. As I joked with them, it should be time for my 100,000 check-up, even though it’s not the same old trip to see my plastic surgeon!”
Parton noted that the setback meant she wouldn’t “have the option to rehearse and put together the show that I would like you to see,” noting that she would proceed to work from her home base in Nashville.
“And don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet,” she continued. “But I consider He’s telling me to decelerate right away so I may be ready for more big adventures with all of you. I like you and thanks for understanding.”
Parton’s limited run at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace was set to happen from December 4 to December 13. The shows were rescheduled for September 2026.
Amid concern over the legendary singer’s health, Parton assured her fans that she’ll be on the mend soon enough.
“I wanna say something … I do know recently everybody thinks that I’m sicker than I’m. Do I look sick to you?” she said in a video shared October 8. “I’m working hard here. Anyway, I desired to put everybody’s mind relaxed, those of you that appear to be real concerned, which I appreciate. And I appreciate your prayers ’cause I’m an individual of religion. I can all the time use the prayers for anything and every thing. But I would like you to know that I’m OK.”
Parton reiterated that her health troubles were “nothing major,” but she desired to be closer to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she’s “having a number of treatments here and there.”
“But I wanted you to know that I’m not dying,” she added, thanking fans for keeping her of their thoughts.
While Parton missed out on Sunday’s Governors Awards ceremony, fellow honorees included Debbie Allen, Tom Cruise and Wynn Thomas.