Country music star Dolly Parton performed a new version of ‘Jolene’ while receiving the vaccination that she helped to fund.
The 75-year-old performed the adaptation of her hit song to celebrate her first coronavirus vaccination jab at the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, based in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the video, posted 2 March 2021, she sings to the tune of ‘Jolene’: “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I’m begging you please don’t hesitate. Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, because once you’re dead then that’s a bit too late.”
Laughing after the revised rendition, she reminded fans that while she was trying to be funny, she was “dead serious” about the vaccine. Parton urged people to get their own vaccines, saying “I just wanted to encourage everybody because the sooner we get to feeling better, the sooner we are gonna get back to being normal.”
She also added lightheartedly, “I just want to say to all you cowards out there, don’t be such a chicken squat. Get out there and get your shot!”
The country legend earned praise last year after donating $1 million (approximately £750,000) towards early stages of vaccine research and development. Taking to instagram, she announced:
The huge sum, referred to as the “Dolly Parton Covid-19 Research Fund”, supported the development of the Moderna vaccine which is reported to have a 95% efficacy rate. A portion of the donation also helped fund a convalescent plasma study being run by the Vanderbilt Centre, a treatment therapy used on patients battling the coronavirus.
In November 2020, Parton told BBC’s The One Show, “I’m sure many millions of dollars from many people went into that. But I just felt so proud to have been a part of that little seed of money that will hopefully grow into something great and help heal this world.”
After receiving her first Moderna jab from Dr Naji Abumrad, she announced “that didn’t hurt”.
Parton should receive her second dose of the Moderna vaccine within six weeks, following WHO guidance.
Words by Alex Lovegrove
Image credit: Twitter
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