Dolly Parton Declined Medal Of Freedom From President Trump Twice

Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

February 2nd, 2021 10:16 AM

Dolly Parton told the Today show this morning in an interview that former President Donald Trump’s administration tried to give her the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, twice but she had to turn them down.

Dolly explained, “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,” adding that she has since heard from President Joe Biden about the award as well, “Now I feel like if I take it, I’ll be doing politics, so I’m not sure.”

Parton continued, “But I don’t work for those awards. 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.”

Dolly Parton turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice
Dolly Parton explains why she turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Donald Trump to the cast of TODAY.

Late last year she told Today, “I’m just happy that anything I do can help somebody else, and when I donated the money to the COVID fund, I just wanted it to do good. Evidently, it is.”

You may remember when former President Barack Obama said he should have given the singer the prestigious award, when Stephen Colbert asked him, “How does Dolly Parton not have a presidential medal of freedom?” Obama responded, “That’s a mistake. I’m shocked. Actually, that was a screwup, I’m surprised. I think I assumed that she’d already got one and that was incorrect. I’m surprised, she deserves one.”

75 Dolly Parton Songs, Ranked

75 – “Straight Talk” – 1992
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From the movie with the same name. Dolly played a radio talk show host.
74 – “These Old Bones” – 2002
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The old lady voice she makes in this song she says sounds just like her own mother.
73 – “Here I Am” – 2018
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From the Netflix movie, Dumplin'.
72 – “Holdin’ On To You” w/ Elle King – 2018
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Dolly Parton's top 75 songs. What a list!
71 – “Not Enough” w/ Queen Latifah – 2012
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From the movie soundtrack.
70 – “Don’t Think Twice” – 2014
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A Bob Dylan song.
69 – “Lay Your Hands On Me” – 2014
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Yep, it's a cover of the Bon Jovi classic.
68 – “Better Day” – 2011
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Dolly Parton's top 75 songs. What a list!
67 – “When Life Is Good Again” – 2020
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We all needed to hear this song in 2020, a year that Dolly brought a bit of light to.
66 – “Backwood Barbie” – 2008
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Dolly Parton's top 75 songs. What a list!
65 – “If I Were A Carpenter” w/ Joe Nichols -2005
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With country singer Joe Nichols.
64 – “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” w/ Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn – 1993
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This album was so good and what a teaming of country icons.
63 – “Red, White and Bluegrass” – 2003
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Dolly Parton's top 75 songs. What a list!
62 – “Better Get To Livin'” – 2008
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A song that reflects Dolly's optimism on life.
61 – “Lovesick Blues” w/ Patsy Cline, Loretta, Tammy – 1993
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Dolly Parton's top 75 songs. What a list!
60 – “Halos and Horns” – 1998
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Dolly Parton's top 75 songs. What a list!
59 – “Down From Dover” – 1970
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She cites this as a favorite tune she has written.
58 – “Seven Bridges Road” – 2000
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A great cover of the Eagles song.
57 – “Travelin’ Prayer” – 1999
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A Billy Joel cover.
56 – “Honky Tonk Songs” – 1998
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Dolly Parton's top 75 songs. What a list!
55 – “I Still Miss Someone” – 1999
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Dolly's remake of a classic Johnny Cash song.
54 – “Time and Tears” – 1998
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Dolly Parton's top 75 songs. What a list!
53 – “The Camel’s Heart – 1998
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Dolly Parton's top 75 songs. What a list!
52 – “The Grass Is Blue” – 1999
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Title cut from this album that won a Grammy in 2000 for Best Bluegrass album.
51 – “The Salt In My Tears” – 1998
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This album called Hungry Again came out soon after the death of Tammy Wynette. Dolly in an interview for this record revealed she had written some unfinished songs with Wynette.
50 – “Me and Little Andy” – 1977
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This song was never a single but is a favorite of many Dolly fans for its unique subject matter and Dolly using a childlike voice to sing a part.
49 – “To Daddy” – 1994
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Dolly wrote this song in the 1960's and gave it to Emmylou Harris to record as a single.
48 – “After The Goldrush” w/ the Trio – 1999
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This song won a Grammy in 2000.
47 – “Starting Over Again” – 1980
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This is a Dolly classic that Reba remade in the 1990's.
46 – “Single Women” – 1982
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This album Heartbreak Express was the followup album to Dolly's huge 9 to 5 album. This was a number one song.
45 – “Heartsongs” – 1994
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This was Dolly's live album recorded in her native East Tennessee. This is a title song.
44 – “Yellow Roses” – 1989
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A classic Dolly love song.
43 – “You Can’t Make Old Friends” w/ Kenny Rogers – 2014
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This collaboration won Kenny and Dolly a Grammy in 2015.
42 – “Pure and Simple” – 2016
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This song is one of my personal favorites and the whole project is special because I worked on the tour for the project.
41 – “Traveling Man” – 1971
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One of Dolly's early hits that she shared her mother didn't really care for because of the subject matter.
40 – “Don’t Call It Love” – 1985
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One of my faves that when I hear I can't get out of my head for days.
39 – “All I Can Do” – 1976
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Love this, it's a quick ride of a song.
38 – “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning” – 1977
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A song Dolly put on a few of her albums the first in 1977. It's one of those songs that you listen to when you need to feel better about something. It's full of hope.
36 – “High And Mighty” – 1993
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This is another song that Dolly put on a few of her albums. When she really believes in a song she just releases it again for a new generation of listeners.
35 – “Wildflowers” – w/ Trio – 1987
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This album called Trio won a Grammy in 1988 for Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.
34 – “Appalachian Memories” – 1983
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A song she later re-recorded as "Smoky Mountain Memories" about her people in East Tennessee.
33 – “Calm On The Water” – 1983
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An album cut from Dolly's Burlap and Satin album that is an all-time favorite.
32 – “The Seeker” – 1975
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An early hit for Dolly that leaned toward inspiration.
31 – “Heartbreak Express.” – 1982
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The title cut from her Heartbreak Express album. Coming out after 9 to 5, the album sold over a million copies.
30 – “The Bargain Store” – 1975
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A song that Dolly said is about finding love.
29 – “The PMS Blues” – 1994
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A comical look at what women deal with on a monthly basis. Yeah, it's what you think it is and it's hillarious.
28 – “Baby I’m Burning” – 1978
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This is a catchy song that Dolly had remixed to a dance mix and released on pink vinyl that same year. It's my husband's favorite Dolly song and he's a heavy metal guy. Go figure.
27 – “Applejack” – 1977
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Never a single but always played in every Dolly concert since she first recorded it. She plays a mean banjo too.
26 – “Love is Like A Butterfly” – 1974
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Classic Dolly and her love of butterflies has always been her trademark.
25 – “Hush Bye Hard Times” – 1980
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What a great song on her huge 9 to 5 album. Every song on that album could have been a single.
24 – “Twelfth of Never” w/ Keith Urban – 2005
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Just as Keith Urban started to become a country superstar he record this classic with Dolly. He sang it with Dolly at his New Faces Show at CRS in Nashville in 2005. The song ends with Keith saying, "You give me chills Dolly."
23 – “What A Heartache” – 1991
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A song Dolly has put on a couple of her albums. A serious heartbreak of a song.
22 – “Stairway To Heaven” – 2002
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Yep, Dolly covered this classic and it's great.
21 – “Eagle When She Flies” – 1991
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A powerful song for a powerful woman. This song even inspired a series of greeting cards.
20 – “Tennessee Homesick Blues” – 1984
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A great song for the Rhinestone movie with Sylvester Stallone. She held a huge party for the movie at her home in Tennessee for the movie's opening.
19 – “Down” – 1979
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A great album cut Dolly wrote from her Great Balls Of Fire album.
18 – “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” – 1989
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Love this and the video is awesome as well. Number one song.
17 – “Lonely Comin’ Down” – 1974
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Another stellar album cut from the same album that gave us "Jolene" and " I Will Always Love You."
16 – “Old Flames ( Can’t Hold A Candle To You)” – 1980
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Classic Dolly, but a song written by pop singer Kesha's mom, Pebe Sebert.
15 – “My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy” – 1969
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The boy on the album cover is Dolly's not often seen husband Carl Dean.
14 – “One Emotion After Another” – 1984
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Yeah, the movie (Rhinestone) got panned and Sly Stallone singing was rough, but Dolly on the soundtrack and this song is amazing.
13 – “Islands In The Steam” – 1982
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One of the biggest selling songs of all time. Written by The Bee Gees. I can't hear this one enough.
12 – “It’s Such A Heartache” – 1985
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The perfect heartbreak song.
11 – “Two Doors Down” – 1977
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This is a the song that Jane Fonda heard on the radio that inspired her to cast Dolly in 9 to 5.
10 – “Think About Love” – 1985
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Perfect for the Real Love album and one of my very favorites.
9 – “Nickels and Dimes” – 1978
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An album cut that tells the story of her first taking her guitar out to sing on the streets. She wrote the song with her brother Randy Parton.
8 – “Jesus and Gravity” – 2008
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A single she released in 2008. I always say this song is just as powerful as Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take The Wheel."
7 – “He’s Alive” 1989
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Dolly won a Dove award for this powerful Easter song.
6 – “Joshua” – 1971
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Dolly's first number one solo song. It's a great story song.
5 – “9 to 5” – 1980
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What more can be said of this classic country and pop song? Can you think of Dolly without thinking about this song?
4 – “Here You Come Again” – 1977
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A Grammy winner for Dolly. Believe it or not, she didn't write this one, but what a hit it was for her.
3 – “Coat Of Many Colors” 1971
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Dolly says this is her favorite song that she's written. It's of course a true story of what her mother had sewn her to wear to school as a kid.
2 – “I Will Always Love You” – 1974
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Dolly says this is her favorite song to sing. It's what she is known for, not to mention the Whitney Houston hit.
1 – “Jolene” – 1974
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This song is a marvel and it's been my ring tone since 1995. You know, Dolly says she can't totally remember but speculates that she wrote this song and "I Will Always Love You" on the same day. What a day!

Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.

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Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

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Dolly Parton Declined Medal Of Freedom From President Trump Twice

75 Dolly Parton Songs, Ranked

75 – “Straight Talk” – 1992

74 – “These Old Bones” – 2002

73 – “Here I Am” – 2018

72 – “Holdin’ On To You” w/ Elle King – 2018

71 – “Not Enough” w/ Queen Latifah – 2012

70 – “Don’t Think Twice” – 2014

69 – “Lay Your Hands On Me” – 2014

68 – “Better Day” – 2011

67 – “When Life Is Good Again” – 2020

66 – “Backwood Barbie” – 2008

65 – “If I Were A Carpenter” w/ Joe Nichols -2005

64 – “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” w/ Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn – 1993

63 – “Red, White and Bluegrass” – 2003

62 – “Better Get To Livin'” – 2008

61 – “Lovesick Blues” w/ Patsy Cline, Loretta, Tammy – 1993

60 – “Halos and Horns” – 1998

59 – “Down From Dover” – 1970

58 – “Seven Bridges Road” – 2000

57 – “Travelin’ Prayer” – 1999

56 – “Honky Tonk Songs” – 1998

55 – “I Still Miss Someone” – 1999

54 – “Time and Tears” – 1998

53 – “The Camel’s Heart – 1998

52 – “The Grass Is Blue” – 1999

51 – “The Salt In My Tears” – 1998

50 – “Me and Little Andy” – 1977

49 – “To Daddy” – 1994

48 – “After The Goldrush” w/ the Trio – 1999

47 – “Starting Over Again” – 1980

46 – “Single Women” – 1982

45 – “Heartsongs” – 1994

44 – “Yellow Roses” – 1989

43 – “You Can’t Make Old Friends” w/ Kenny Rogers – 2014

42 – “Pure and Simple” – 2016

41 – “Traveling Man” – 1971

40 – “Don’t Call It Love” – 1985

39 – “All I Can Do” – 1976

38 – “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning” – 1977

36 – “High And Mighty” – 1993

35 – “Wildflowers” – w/ Trio – 1987

34 – “Appalachian Memories” – 1983

33 – “Calm On The Water” – 1983

32 – “The Seeker” – 1975

31 – “Heartbreak Express.” – 1982

30 – “The Bargain Store” – 1975

29 – “The PMS Blues” – 1994

28 – “Baby I’m Burning” – 1978

27 – “Applejack” – 1977

26 – “Love is Like A Butterfly” – 1974

25 – “Hush Bye Hard Times” – 1980

24 – “Twelfth of Never” w/ Keith Urban – 2005

23 – “What A Heartache” – 1991

22 – “Stairway To Heaven” – 2002

21 – “Eagle When She Flies” – 1991

20 – “Tennessee Homesick Blues” – 1984

19 – “Down” – 1979

18 – “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” – 1989

17 – “Lonely Comin’ Down” – 1974

16 – “Old Flames ( Can’t Hold A Candle To You)” – 1980

15 – “My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy” – 1969

14 – “One Emotion After Another” – 1984

13 – “Islands In The Steam” – 1982