Dolly Parton to Be Honored with Oscar at 2025 Governors Awards

Dolly Parton will receive an honorary Oscar at the 2025 Governors Awards this November. The 79-year-old icon is being honored for her outstanding humanitarian efforts. Known for her music and generosity, Dolly has supported education, healthcare, and disaster relief for decades. She will be awarded alongside actor Tom Cruise, legendary choreographer Debbie Allen, and production designer Wynn Thomas. The ceremony celebrates individuals who have made a lasting impact on the film industry and beyond. Dolly’s work has touched lives far outside the spotlight, making this recognition a fitting tribute to her legacy of giving and kindness.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen, and production designer Wynn Thomas will receive honorary Oscars at the 2025 Governors Awards. Dolly Parton will be honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her charitable work. The awards recognize major contributions to the film industry and society. All four honorees will receive their Oscar statuettes at the 16th annual ceremony. The event is set to take place on November 16 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood.

“This year’s Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact,” Janet Yang, the Academy president, said in a release announcing the news. “The Academy’s Board of Governors is honored to recognize these brilliant artists. Debbie Allen is a trailblazing choreographer and actor whose work has captivated generations and crossed genres. Tom Cruise’s incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community has inspired us all. Beloved performer Dolly Parton exemplifies the spirit of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award through her unwavering dedication to charitable efforts. And production designer Wynn Thomas has brought some of the most enduring films to life through a visionary eye and mastery of his craft.”

Dolly Parton, known for her roles in ‘Steel Magnolias’ and ‘Nine to Five’ and for selling over 100 million records, will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. She has earned two Oscar nominations for Best Original Song with ‘Nine to Five’ and ‘Travelin’ Thru’. The Academy is honoring her not just for her music and acting, but for her long-standing dedication to humanitarian efforts and charitable work.

Presenting the 16th annual Governors Awards honorees:

• Debbie Allen
• Tom Cruise
• Wynn Thomas
• Dolly Parton (Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award)

The 16th annual Governors Awards will be held on November 16, 2025. pic.twitter.com/V8UFtJE2LB

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) June 17, 2025

In 1988, Dolly Parton launched the Dollywood Foundation, a Tennessee-based nonprofit she founded two years after teaming up with a local theme park to create Dollywood. The foundation originally aimed to support education for children in Tennessee. Over time, its mission grew, leading to the creation of the Imagination Library. This program became a huge success, mailing free books to young children and encouraging early reading. It now serves families across the U.S. and several other countries.

In 1988, Dolly Parton founded the Dollywood Foundation. It is a Tennessee-based nonprofit organization that the singer founded two years after teaming up with a local theme park to create Dollywood. The foundation originally aimed to support education for children in Tennessee. Its mission evolved, ultimately leading to the creation of the Imagination Library. This program has become a huge success, mailing free books to young children and encouraging early reading. It now serves families across the country and several other countries.

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