Country music star Dolly Parton has been awarded a $100m (£85m) prize from Jeff Bezos.
The money comes from the Bezos Award for Courage and Civility, which honors leaders who “find solutions with courage and civility.”
Bezos announced the award alongside his longtime partner, news anchor Lauren Sanchez.
Sanchez said on Instagram that Parton is “a woman who gives her heart and leads with love and compassion in all aspects of her work.”
She added: “We can’t wait to see what you’ll do with your $100 million prize.”
Partonsaid in a video clip of the ceremony posted online: “Wow! Did you say $100 million?”
“I think people who are in a position to help should put their money where their mouths are.
“I’m going to do whatever good I can with this money.”
Parton, 76, a county pop and gospel singer-songwriter with songs like I Will Always Love You, and Jolene a longtime philanthropist.
She donated $1 million (£850,000) to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help develop a vaccine During the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Associated Press)
Patton, who is this month? inducted into the rock and roll hall of fameAlso founded a number of charities, including the Dollywood Foundation, which focuses on education and poverty alleviation.
Bezos’ awards began in 2001 with activist Van Jones, who served as the founding CEO of Reform League and Dream Corps, and chef and humanitarian Jose Andrés, who built the world Central kitchen to deliver food or disasters immediately after the fact.