Country music star and philanthropist Dolly Parton has been named winner of Amazon founder, billionaire Jeff Bezos's Courage & Civility Award. The honour comes with a $100 million prize.
Bezos, who is also the owner of the space rocket company Blue Origin, announced the award on Friday along with his partner, news anchor Lauren Sanchez.
Sanchez said on Instagram that Parton is "a woman who gives with her heart and leads with love and compassion in every aspect of her work".
"We can’t wait to see all the good that you’re going to do with this $100m award," she said.
Parton, in a video clip of the ceremony posted online, said: "Wow! Did you say $100m?"
"I think people who are in a position to help should put their money where their heart is. I will do my best to do good things with this money," she said.
Parton, 76, a country, pop and gospel singer-songwriter, whose songs include 9 to 5 and Jolene, has been a philanthropist for many years.
She donated $1m to Vanderbilt University's Medical Centre to help develop a vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Parton, who this month was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, has also founded a number of charities including the Dollywood Foundation, which focuses on education as well as poverty relief.
Bezos first handed out the award in 2021, honouring activist Van Jones, who served as founding chief executive of the Reform Alliance and Dream Corps, as well as chef and humanitarian Jose Andres, who established World Central Kitchen, which provides food in the immediate aftermath of disasters.
Dolly Parton's style evolution — in pictures
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Dolly Parton, with a side-swept beehive, poses for a portrait in 1965 in Nashville, Tennessee. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in a floral dress, with Porter Wagoner on the set of his TV show in 1969. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in a jumpsuit and crochet cape, at London Airport on April 16, 1976. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in a denim shirt and headscarf, pictured in London, England, on May 20, 1977. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in a high-necked lace creation, in 1978. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in burgundy velvet, at recording session in 1978. Reuters -
Ben Vereen and Dolly Parton, in a strapless gown, attend the 52nd annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on April 14, 1980. Reuters -
Dolly Parton, in a pink-fringed blouse, pictured in 1987. Reuters -
Dolly Parton, in a black and white blouse and voluminous curls, at a press conference in 1987. Getty Images -
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, in a black dress with matching bolero, in 1987. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in an encrusted white gown, at the 14th People's Choice Awards on March 13, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. Reuters -
Dolly Parton, in an embellished layered dress, attends the 'Steel Magnolias' premiere on November 9, 1989, in Los Angeles, US. Reuters -
Dolly Parton, in a leather skirt and waistcoat, waves during a luncheon in Washington, DC, on March 22, 2000. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in an embroidered yellow jacket, attends the National Press Club luncheon in Washington DC, on March 23, 2000. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in a leather waistcoat, poses during the launch of her new album, 'Little Arrow', in a London record store on February 16, 2001. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in a blue capri-pant suit, poses on October 8, 2002 at the Oxford Street HMV store in London, England. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in an American flag-inspired suit, poses on the South Grounds of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 4, 2003. Reuters -
Dolly Parton, in a white suit, performs during the 78th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 5, 2006. EPA -
Dolly Parton, in a white glittering gown, arrives at the Kennedy Centre Honours gala in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2006. EPA -
Dolly Parton, in a beaded green ensemble, at the Magna Science and Adventure Park on December 5, 2007 in South Yorkshire, England. Getty Images -
Dolly Parton, in a beaded pink mini with chiffon robe, arrives at the Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York, US, on June 7, 2009. EPA -
Dolly Parton, in a black corseted dress, poses during a press conference in Melbourne, Australia, on February 11, 2014. EPA -
Dolly Parton, in statement orange, performs during a concert to benefit her Imagination Library at The University of Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena on May 28, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. AFP -
Alyvia Lind and Dolly Parton, in a floral shirt and capri pants, arrive for the NBC Universal summer press tour at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California, on August 13, 2015. EPA -
Dolly Parton, in a multi-coloured sequin blazer, attends the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 3, 2016. EPA -
Dolly Parton, in a patterned mini dress, arrives at the premiere of 'Dumplin' at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood, California, on December 6, 2018. -
Dolly Parton, in a bedazzled body-con dress, arrives for the MusiCares Person of the Year ceremony in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2019. EPA -
Dolly Parton, in a sparkly red dress, arrives at the 61st annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2019. EPA -
Dolly Parton, in a fringe-trimmed dress, attends the gala evening of '9 to 5: The Musical' at The Savoy Theatre on February 17, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images
