Dolly Parton receives $100 million from Jeff Bezos for philanthropic work
Dolly Parton has received a a $US100 million ($149 million AUD) prize awarded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for her philanthropic work.
The country music start received the Bezos Courage & Civility Award, which recognises leaders who "pursue solutions with courage and civility".
Bezos, along with his partner Lauren Sanchez, announced the award on Friday, with Sanchez saying in an instagram post that Dolly 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 $100 million award," she said.
Parton, in a video clip of the ceremony posted online, said, "Wow! Did you say $100 million?"
"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.
The 76-year-old musician has long been known for her decades-long work as a philanthropist, as she most notably donated $US1 million to Vanderbilt University's Medical Center to help develop a vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Parton, who this month was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, also has founded a number charities including the Dollywood Foundation, which focuses on education as well as poverty relief.
Image credits: Getty Images