Dolly Parton to receive honorary Oscar

Dolly Parton is set to receive an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards in November

The 79-year-old country star will be recognized for her humanitarian work, receiving the statuette alongside Tom Cruise, choreographer Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas. 

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Janet Yang praised Parton in a statement, saying she had made a “lasting impact” on the world.

“Beloved performer Dolly Parton exemplifies the spirit of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award through her unwavering dedication to charitable efforts,” she said.

Parton founded her Tennessee-based nonprofit Dollywood Foundation in 1988, two years after partnering with a nearby theme park to create Dollywood. The organization focused on educational success for the children of Tennessee, eventually expanding its mission with the wildly popular Imagination Library, which delivers books to young children.

Though the “Jolene” singer has never won an Oscar, she has starred in films and been nominated by the Academy twice. Her song “9 to 5,” from the Parton-starring movie of the same name, was nominated for Best Original Song in 1981. She netted another nom with “Travelin’ Thru,” a composition for the 2006 film “Transamerica.”