Dolly Parton never had kids of her own, but she continues to open her heart as well as her checkbook to children in need.
On Thursday, February 26, the country music legend, 80, announced on Instagram that East Tennessee Children’s Hospital will officially become the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital.
“She’s pouring a fortune into upgrading the place to make it worthy of having her name,” a source tells Closer.
Spending time with children at the hospital has brought Parton “a lot of solace” following the death of husband Carl Thomas Dean last March, says the source. “It makes her feel useful and she says it’s impossible to feel sorry for herself when she’s there.”
Parton has been navigating some health challenges of her own recently.
In September, the “9 to 5” singer penned a note to fans on Instagram, explaining that she needed to postpone her upcoming Las Vegas concerts in order to undergo a few procedures.
“Dolly is a very proactive person. She may be on doctor’s orders to take a break from performing, but she says that doesn’t mean she can’t still do something valuable with her time,” shares the source. “And in her view, nothing could be more valuable than helping sick kids.”
Parton helps out way more than people realize too, the source reveals. “She puts on scrubs and the mask and goes incognito to help hold the babies in the NICU or play with the little ones in the pediatric care ward.”
Adds the source, “And she’s doing it all with almost no fanfare.”