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Dolly Parton has contributed a major financial gift described as “transformational” to a children’s hospital.
Earlier this year, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital was officially renamed the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital after the country music icon made a significant donation to the institution.
The hospital’s president and CEO Matt Schaefer has now spoken publicly about the impact of her contribution. Speaking with Chief Healthcare Executive, he explained: “What I can tell you is that she has made a generational and transformational commitment to Children’s and its mission.”
“That commitment is something that goes beyond our wildest expectations, that is beyond generous, and will be a lifeline for this mission for now and for years to come,” he continued. “And we’re excited about and humbled by her willingness to do so.”
Although Schaefer did not reveal the exact figure of Parton’s gift, he explained that her support places both the hospital and the surrounding community in a very strong and promising position.
The donation is expected to support several key areas, helping both young patients receiving care and the medical professionals responsible for their treatment.
In related news, Parton stepped back into the public spotlight last month for the first time in 2026 and gave fans an update on her wellbeing. This followed speculation about her health that began after comments from her sister last October.
After those concerns surfaced, Parton addressed the situation herself, explaining that she had experienced several “health challenges” that ultimately led her to cancel her planned Las Vegas residency.
“I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on,” she shared, referring to the passing of her husband Carl Dean, whom she was married to for 58 years before he died last March.
“I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But, all is good. It didn’t slow me down.”
Following Dean’s death, the country legend previously shared that she had paused work on new music while processing her loss, although she has since returned to creative work.
She added: “I’ve just been doing a lot of writing, a lot of thinking, a lot of praying and a lot of getting ready for a lot of new stuff coming up for the rest of this whole year. So, be ready for me. I ain’t done, I ain’t near done.”
In the period after his passing, Parton also said she was “doing better than I thought I would” and later released the emotional song “If You Hadn’t Been There” as a tribute to him. She explained that the track reflects how important he was in her life and how he helped shape who she became.
She also celebrated her 80th birthday by releasing a refreshed version of her 1977 song “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning” in January. The new recording featured Queen Latifah, Reba McEntire, Lainey Wilson, and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus as part of a celebration marking 50 years of the song.
U2 singer Bono also arranged a special surprise by sending a bagpiper to perform for her birthday. More recently, Parton also appeared in a pre recorded video tribute celebrating Ozzy Osbourne receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at last month’s BRIT Awards.
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Nova Twins, Brògeal and Eve Goodman have been confirmed as ambassadors for Independent Venue Week 2026.
The week long celebration of grassroots live music across the UK has been running since 2013 and will take place this year between January 26 and February 1. A total of 236 venues are involved, each hosting special shows during a period that is typically quieter for independent spaces.
Nova Twins will serve as the 2026 Artist Ambassadors and are set to return to their South London roots with a special one off performance at the 300 capacity Amersham Arms on January 27. Tickets for the show are available now.
Made up of Amy Love and Georgia South, the duo were recently named champions of National Album Day and ambassadors for Music Minds Matter. They also released their third studio album ‘Parasites & Butterflies’ last year.
The band said: “We’re SO excited to be playing Amersham Arms on Jan 27th for Independent Venue Week. This venue means so much to us. We spent a huge part of our teenage years playing on that stage and have so many memories tied to it.
“From our earliest bands through to becoming Nova Twins, it has always been a vital space for us. It helped shape who we are and build our community. We’re really looking forward to playing an intimate show and celebrating independent venues. We have to keep protecting them.”
Falkirk folk punk outfit Brògeal have been announced as the Scottish ambassadors for 2026. They will play shows at MacArts in Galashiels on January 30 and The Venue in Dumfries on January 31, with The Rooks providing support at both dates.
Singer songwriter Eve Goodman has been named as the Welsh ambassador and will perform at Caffi Isa in Mold on January 26, Tŷ Tawe in Swansea on January 30 and Cwtch Coffee in Pembroke on February 1.
Sybil Bell, founder and CEO of Independent Venue Week, said: “I’m incredibly proud that IVW continues to work with such inspiring artist ambassadors. These shows perfectly capture what the celebration is about, whether it’s Nova Twins returning to a venue that played a huge role in their journey, or Brògeal and Eve heading beyond the major cities to perform in music loving towns like Galashiels, Dumfries and Mold. That spirit is central to what we’re trying to do, and we’re so excited to see the 13th edition of IVW begin on January 26th.”
You can find the full list of participating venues and shows here.
Since the event began, more than one million tickets have been sold for Independent Venue Week shows, helping to shine a light on the challenges facing the live music sector. Last year, Gwenno and rEDOLENT acted as ambassadors for the campaign.
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