Country music icon and beloved entertainer Dolly Parton is set to receive one of Hollywood’s most prestigious honors, adding a unique Oscar statuette to her already overflowing trophy case. Parton will be presented with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 16th annual Governors Awards in 2025.
Scheduled for Sunday, November 16, 2025, the special ceremony will take place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood. Unlike competitive Oscars, this award is bestowed by the Academy’s Board of Governors to recognize extraordinary contributions to the industry and society.
Honoring Parton’s Profound Humanitarian Impact
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award is specifically given to an individual in the motion picture arts and sciences community whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry by promoting human welfare and contributing to rectifying inequities. While Parton is globally celebrated for her seven-decade career in music, selling over 100 million records, starring in films like Nine to Five and Steel Magnolias, and earning two previous Oscar nominations for Best Original Song, this particular award recognizes her unwavering dedication to philanthropy above all.
A cornerstone of Parton’s charitable work is the Dollywood Foundation, which she established in 1988. Initially focused on addressing high school dropout rates in her home state of East Tennessee, the foundation’s mission expanded to inspiring educational success and championing literacy.
Its signature program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, launched in 1995 in tribute to her father, who was unable to read or write. This transformative initiative provides free, high-quality books delivered monthly to children from birth until they start school. What began as a local effort has blossomed into a massive international movement, gifting over 285 million books to children worldwide to date, significantly promoting early childhood literacy.
Parton’s generosity extends beyond her foundational programs. She has also provided substantial financial support for disaster relief, including a $1 million donation following devastating floods in East Tennessee, and contributed $1 million towards the research that was instrumental in developing the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 during the 2020 pandemic. Her philosophy, as she once shared, is simply to “do as much good as I can… I ask God to let me shine.”
By recognizing these extensive humanitarian efforts, the Academy highlights how Parton’s work promoting human welfare brings significant credit to the motion picture community. She joins a distinguished, short list of music figures previously honored with the Jean Hersholt Award, including Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, and Debbie Reynolds.
Other Esteemed Honorees at the Governors Awards
In addition to Parton, the Academy’s board voted to present Honorary Awards to three other legendary figures at the 2025 Governors Awards:
Debbie Allen: A trailblazing choreographer, actor, and producer whose work spans nearly five decades. Allen has choreographed the Academy Awards ceremony an impressive seven times and contributed her talents to numerous films and television projects, captivating generations.
Tom Cruise: One of Hollywood’s most recognized and bankable stars, honored for his incredible commitment to the filmmaking community, the theatrical experience, and the stunts community. The Academy credited him with helping the industry through challenging times and inspiring others with his dedication to his craft, including performing his own stunts. Cruise has received four previous Oscar nominations for acting and producing.
Wynn Thomas: An acclaimed production designer known for his visionary eye and mastery. Thomas is a pioneering Black production designer and a frequent collaborator with director Spike Lee, having designed sets for iconic films like Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, and Da 5 Bloods. His extensive work also includes acclaimed films like the Best Picture winner A Beautiful Mind and Hidden Figures*.
Academy President Janet Yang stated that “This year’s Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact.” She added, “The Academy’s board of governors is honored to recognize these brilliant artists.”
While the Governors Awards ceremony itself is not typically televised, the recipients are traditionally acknowledged during the main Academy Awards telecast, which is scheduled for March 16, 2026, for the honors presented in November 2025. Parton’s recognition with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award underscores the film industry’s acknowledgment of the profound impact individuals connected to it can have on the world through their philanthropic endeavors.
