After twice declining the nation’s highest civilian honor from President Donald Trump, Dolly Parton said on Monday she might not accept the award from his successor, Joe Biden.
The video: In an interview with NBC morning show “Today,” the country music legend reiterated her longstanding commitment to staying out of politics.
- Parton first explained why she didn’t accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump: “I couldn’t accept it because my husband was ill and then they asked me again about it and I wouldn’t travel because of the COVID,” she told “Today” hosts Jenna Bush-Hager and Hoda Kotb.
- Then the “Jolene” singer revealed why she was hesitant about accepting the honor from Biden: “Now I feel like if I take it, I’ll be doing politics, so I’m not sure.”
- She’s modest, too: “But I don’t work for those awards,” Parton added. “It’d be nice but I’m not sure that I even deserve it. But it’s a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it.”
The Trump effect: In the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol high-profile displays of support for Trump, already viewed by half the country as a polarizing figure, took on a heightened degree of sensitivity.
- Shortly after the Capitol was stormed, New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick revealed he’d declined the Medal of Freedom from Trump.
- “Subsequently, the tragic events of last week occurred and the decision has been made not to move forward with the award,” the six-time Super Bowl winner said in a statement.
