Dolly Parton will miss the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ prestigious Governors Awards on November 16, 2025, where she was set to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her extensive charitable work. The ceremony, held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood, will proceed with fellow honorees Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen, and Wynn Thomas in attendance, while Parton delivers her acceptance speech remotely from Nashville.
Country music legend Dolly Parton to accept humanitarian honor remotely while fellow stars gather in Hollywood.
Though initially reported as a scheduling conflict when Parton informed the Academy of her unavailability in June, recent developments suggest health concerns may be the underlying reason. The country music icon has been dealing with unspecified health issues that required her to postpone several Las Vegas concerts after doctors advised her to undergo medical procedures.
Despite being able to continue working on projects from her Nashville base, Parton has been unable to maintain the rehearsal schedule necessary for her performances. Parton’s publicist initially denied health concerns as the reason for missing the Governors Awards, attributing her absence solely to scheduling conflicts. However, reports from Variety citing the concert postponements have fueled speculation about her well-being.
The singer had requested the Academy postpone her honor until 2026, expressing her initial intention to attend if rescheduling were possible. Several sources close to the singer mentioned that Parton has been working on capturing studio-quality vocals for upcoming projects from her home in Nashville during her recovery.
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award recognizes Parton’s significant contributions to human welfare, including her Imagination Library which has provided millions of books to children worldwide. Her philanthropic portfolio includes over $2 million in medical research donations, substantial disaster relief efforts, and pandemic-related funding. Throughout her career, Parton has released 49 studio albums and sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Parton’s growing list of cancellations and rescheduled events has raised concerns among fans. The country legend may be focusing on managing her health while preserving her sync deals income from music licensed for films and television. The rescheduled Las Vegas concerts are now set for September 17-26 of next year, with original tickets remaining valid for the new dates. While the Academy’s celebration will maintain its celebratory nature, the absence of the beloved humanitarian has cast a shadow over what was intended to be a joyous recognition of her remarkable charitable work.
Despite her physical absence, Parton’s impact on humanitarian causes remains a centerpiece of the upcoming ceremony.
