Country music legend Dolly Parton has expressed her excitement after a children’s hospital in Tennessee was renamed in her honour.
On Thursday, the 80-year-old icon announced that East Tennessee Children’s Hospital will now be known as Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital.
In a video message shared on Instagram, Parton reflected on her long-standing passion for children’s wellbeing.
“I’ve always believed that every child deserves a fair chance to grow up healthy, hopeful, and surrounded with love. Now, that belief is what brought me together with the incredible folks at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital,” she said.
She praised the hospital’s nearly 90-year history of providing compassionate and skilled care, adding that the team sees children not just as patients, but as “precious lives — each with a story and a future.”
“I am so excited to share, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is becoming… guess what? Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. Yay!” she added enthusiastically.
The singer also encouraged fans to support the medical centre, urging collective action to improve children’s healthcare.
“I can’t do it all myself! I’m going to need you. So, when we come together for our children, there’s no limit to what we can do,” she said, directing supporters to DollyChildrens.org for more information.
Reacting to the development, Matt Schaefer, president and CEO of the newly renamed hospital, described the move as more than symbolic.
“This is more than a name change,” he said. “With Dolly’s support, we are strengthening our mission to deliver world-class paediatric care to families, ensuring every child who walks through our doors receives the treatment they deserve.”
The announcement comes about five months after the “Jolene” hitmaker revealed she was postponing several planned concerts in Las Vegas due to health challenges.
