The Real Reason Dolly Parton Is Calling People 'Cowards'

Dolly Parton donated $1 million to COVID-19 research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to create the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund to help researchers find a cure or vaccine. This funding partially helped fund the research on Moderna's vaccine, per People.

In early March 2021, the queen of country posted a video of herself receiving the vaccine on Twitter with the caption, "Dolly gets a dose of her own medicine @VUMChealth." The video begins with the country crooner sitting in front of a Vanderbilt Health step-and-repeat talking to her 5.2 million followers, "I'm finally gonna get my vaccine, I'm so excited. I've been waitin' awhile, I'm old enough to get it and I'm smart enough to get it," an apparent dig at those who aren't willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The "9 to 5" star then launched into a reworked version of her 1973 hit "Jolene" renamed as "Vaccine." "Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine," the two-time Oscar nominee sang. "I'm beggin' of you please don't hesitate, Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine... 'cause once you're dead then that's a bit too late".

So, who are the people that the "I Will Always Love You" singer is calling cowards? Read on to find out.

In the nearly four-minute video, Dolly Parton is clad in a blue sparkly, long-sleeved shirt with openings in the sleeves, making it the perfect outfit for receiving a vaccine. "I know I'm tryin' to be funny now but I'm dead serious about the vaccine," the "Coat of Many Colors" singer continued. "I think we all want to get back to normal, whatever that is, and that would be a great shot in the arm, wouldn't it? If we could get back to that?"

The 10-time Grammy winner called out those who are unwilling to get vaccinated. "I just wanna say to all of you cowards out there, don't be such a chicken squat," Parton implored. "Get out there and get your shots." The video continues all the way thru the vaccination process, and viewers see Dr. Naji Abumrad of Vanderbilt Medical Center administer the shot into the singer's arm. "That didn't hurt," Parton retorted.

This isn't the first medical donation Parton has made. In 2017, she donated $1 million to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in honor of her niece who was treated for leukemia at that hospital, per Billboard.