Dolly Parton Net Worth: Country Music Star, Actress Donates $1 Million For COVID Vaccine

A month after COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic, country music singer Dolly Parton donated $1 million to coronavirus research at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

More than seven months later, it's been revealed that the legendary performer's donation helped fund Moderna's coronavirus vaccine, which this week became the second coronavirus vaccine with a stunningly high success rate.

While $1 million is a large sum, it comes from the deep pockets of Parton. The 74-year-old, who has her own music label, has an estimated net worth of $600 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Parton's music career began in the 1960s, and her film career started in 1980 with "9 to 5."

Parton's name appears in the vaccine preliminary report, which lists her affiliation with Vanderbilt University. She originally donated to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in honor of her friend and Vanderbilt professor of surgery Dr. Naji Abumrad.

The Moderna vaccine is 94.5% effective against coronavirus, according to early data released this week by the company. Vaccinations could begin as soon as late December, Dr. Anthony Fauci said. The vaccine is expected to be available first to high-risk groups like health care workers, the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions.

Parton recognized the severity of the virus and urged her fans to donate to Vanderbilt Health's COVID-19 research fund, which has raised more than $98,000 of its $250,000 goal.

The Tennessee native's donation was first used toward research for interim COVID-19 treatments, while the vaccine was being developed, she said in an April appearance on NBC's "Today."

"I felt like this was the time for me to open my heart and my hand and try to help," she said in her "Today" appearance.