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Fact Check: Dolly Parton and the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Claim:
Legendary country music singer Dolly Parton turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom on three separate occasions—twice offered by U.S. President Donald Trump and once by former President Joe Biden.
- Rating: True
- Context: Parton publicly confirmed declining the prestigious civilian honors from both the Trump and Biden administrations during a 2021 media appearance. Neither administration has publicly commented on her decisions.
Article Overview
On August 25, 2026, the family of Dolly Parton shared the heartbreaking news that the beloved country music icon had passed away at the age of 80.
Following her passing, social media users widely revisited stories about her decision to turn down the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor. While online discussions frequently highlighted that she declined the award twice from Donald Trump, many posts initially overlooked the instance involving Joe Biden.
Verification confirms that Parton did indeed decline the honor three times in total. In past interviews, she explained that personal and logistical circumstances prevented her from accepting.
Background and Interviews
The conversation surrounding Parton and the medal gained major traction in late 2020, when former President Barack Obama admitted to talk show host Stephen Colbert that he was “shocked” Parton had never been given the award. Obama remarked, “Actually that was a screw-up. I think I assumed that she had already got one… She deserves one. I’ll call Biden.”
Shortly after, in February 2021, Parton appeared on NBC’s Today show and was asked by Jenna Bush Hager if she had heard from the incoming administration regarding Obama’s suggestion. Parton explained:
“Well, I actually have. To be honest, in all fairness, I got offered the Freedom award from the Trump administration. 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. So, now I feel like if I take it, I’ll be doing politics, so I’m not sure. I don’t work for those awards. It’d be nice, but I’m not sure that I even deserve it. But that’s a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it.”
In short, the Trump White House extended the offer twice (which she declined due to her husband’s illness and pandemic travel concerns), and the Biden administration reached out once, resulting in a third decline.
A Career Independent of Politics
Known and adored across a deeply divided political spectrum, Parton generally avoided aligning herself with specific political parties, though she occasionally critiqued political figures as a whole. For instance, her 2023 single “World on Fire” featured pointed commentary on government leaders, with lyrics addressing “greedy politicians, present and past” who “wouldn’t know the truth if it bit ’em in the a**.”
Sources
- TODAY: “Dolly Parton Turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom Twice” (Feb. 2, 2021)
- The Hill: “Dolly Parton on Which Politicians She’s Knocking with New Song: ‘Any of Them!'” (May 15, 2023)
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: President Obama Answers “Questions We’re Pretty Sure Barack Obama Has Never Been Asked Before” (Dec. 1, 2020)
- Snopes: Collection of examined rumors regarding country music legend Dolly Parton (Aug. 2026)
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