Dolly Parton generously donated one million dollars last year towards a COVID-19 Research Fund, aimed at finding a vaccine to help bring a stop to the coronavirus pandemic. Although quite lavish, the 75-year-old is still downplaying her large contribution, saying she only did what she felt in her heart was right.

“When this came out, Vanderbilt Hospital is a wonderful hospital here in Nashville, Tennessee,” Parton told Absolute Radio Country. “They’ve always been very good to me, and I’ve made donations for different things through the years with them. When the pandemic came out, I just felt kind of led to do something, because I knew something bad was on the rise. I just wanted to help with that, so I donated to help with that.

“Mine was a small part, of course, but I probably get a lot more credit than I deserve,” she continued. “But I was happy to be part of that, and to be able to try and stop something in its tracks that’s really become such a monster for all of us. So I was happy to do that. My heart just leads me into where I’m supposed to go and what I’m supposed to do at the time.”

"I probably get a lot more credit than I deserve…"

We thank @DollyParton for Jolene AND a vaccine, no matter how much credit she thinks she deserves! pic.twitter.com/B8hW7WlCLL

— Absolute Radio Country (@ARCountry) August 16, 2021

When Parton made the donation, she did so in the name of Dr. Naji Abumrad, a physician and Professor of Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who became a friend of Parton’s when he treated her following a car accident.

In March, Parton received her own COVID-19 vaccine, urging others to follow her example.

“We all want to get back to normal, whatever that is, and that would be a great shot in the arm, wouldn’t it, to get back to that,” Parton said at the time. “I just wanted to encourage everybody, because the sooner we get to feeling better, the sooner we are gong to get back to being normal. I just want to say to all of you cowards out there, don’t be such a chicken squat. Get out there and get your shot.”

Parton just revealed she co-wrote a novel, Run, Rose, Run, with legendary author, James Patterson. The Grand Ole Opry member also wrote 12 original songs for a new album of the same name. Both the book and the record will be available on March 7, 2022.