Country music legend Dolly Parton has received a $100m (£85m) award from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
This was awarded as part of multi-billionaire Bezos’s annual Courage and Civility Award, which recognises leaders who "pursue solutions with courage and civility".
The award started in 2021, with prizes going to activist Van Jones and chef and humanitarian Jose Andres, who established World Central Kitchen, which provides food in disaster-stricken areas worldwide.
Parton was given the money to honour her contribution to “kids, literacy and so many other things”. She is expected to give the cash to charities of her choice.
Bezos, 58, announced the award along with his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, who said on Instagram that the Jolene hitmaker was “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 $100m award,” she added.
In a video clip from the ceremony shared online, Parton, 76, said: "Wow! Did you say $100m?
“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.”
Parton has been a long-time philanthropist and donated $1million (£850,000) towards Covid-19 vaccination research at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville during the pandemic.
She also has a scholarship programme which awards $15,000 to recipients for their studies and the Dollywood Foundation, which focuses on education and poverty relief.
Parton - a singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman- was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this month.
In October, Parton paid tribute to the “wonderful talent” of fellow country music legend Loretta Lynn after she died aged 90.
Parton said she considered Lynn her sister and that she would “dearly” miss her.
She wrote on Instagram: “So sorry to hear about my sister, friend Loretta.
“We’ve been like sisters all the years we’ve been in Nashville and she was a wonderful human being, wonderful talent, had millions of fans and I’m one of them.
“I miss her dearly as we all will. May she rest in peace”.
