Country music legend Dolly Parton is once again showing her deep commitment to her East Tennessee roots, as the East Tennessee Children's Hospital officially announced on Thursday, February 26, 2026, that it will now be known as the Dolly Parton Children's Hospital. The move is a landmark moment aimed at significantly advancing pediatric healthcare in the region.

Parton, known globally for her music and extensive philanthropic work, appeared in a Town Hall video alongside hospital President and CEO Matt Schaefer and Chief Development and Public Affairs Officer Adam Cook to make the announcement. "Now, when the idea first came up about the hospital carrying my name, well, I said yes because I believe in you. I believe in this place and I want to do my part to help," Parton shared in the video. "So if putting my name alongside yours helps bring more comfort, more hope, and more healing to children and families, well, that's exactly where it belongs."

This initiative builds upon Parton's long history of supporting children and healthcare. She previously donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University's Medical Center for COVID-19 vaccine research in 2020 and more recently contributed another million dollars to pediatric infectious disease research. Her renowned Imagination Library program, launched in her home county of Sevier in 1995, sends 3 million free books to children monthly. Matt Schaefer emphasized that this is "more than a name change," signaling a strengthened mission to deliver world-class pediatric care.