This adorable little lady sings one of Dolly Parton’s biggest hits, and learns that Dolly donated a million dollars to Moderna’s successful Covid-19 vaccine. Dolly has not only created a bevy of country music hits over the decades but she’s also used her money to better the world.
Parton, who is 74 this year, has a history of giving over the past several decades Her latest efforts in donating money have helped the world by supporting the new Covid-19 vaccine trials.
Violet Burdick and her dad Ryan were invited onto a recent taping of the Ellen show. The father-daughter duo was a big hit for the pared-down, socially distanced audience and of course the millions of viewers at home.
How did Violet become such a huge fan of Dolly Parton? Ryan explained that when Violet received books from Dolly’s Imagination Library she fell in love with all things Dolly.
The Imagination Library is Dolly’s dream of spreading literacy amongst children. Dolly put her dream into reality as she currently sends out over one million books a month. In November of 2020, the Imagination Library send out 1,707,049 books.
What started as a program for Dolly’s hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee has now spread into a worldwide endeavor. Children all over the world have signed up and received books from Dolly each month. The Imagination Library as of November 2020 has sent out a grand total of 148,849,147 books.
Before Violet and her dad took the stage to sing, Ellen asked if Violet knew that Dolly helped fund the new Moderna vaccine, which is nearly 95% effective in vaccinating against the Covid-19 disease.
Back in April, Dolly heard that Vanderbilt University Medical Center in her home state of Nashville was doing some major testing of this new vaccine. Dolly got out her checkbook.
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“I just felt so proud to have been part of that little seed money that will hopefully grow into something great and help to heal this world,” Dolly told the BBC.
Dolly’s donation has recently come to fruition as Moderna is requesting emergency FDA authorization to manufacture the vaccine for the world.
There was a funny moment after Ellen asked Violet if she was aware that Dolly had donated the money to help fund trials for the new vaccine. Of course Violet knew this information, and Ellen was taken aback because she thought she was going to be the first to inform the little lady.
The exchange is quite funny. Anyone who’s watched Ellen show knows that these little exchanges bring out Ellen’s sense of humor.
It was that time in the show when Ellen asks the guest to take the stage and perform for the viewing public. Violet and Ryan were ready.
Ryan holds his daughter’s hand as they make their way to the stage where a couch and a guitar were waiting.
This is when you find out what a great musician Violet’s dad is. He picks up the guitar and starts into the song, which has a very unique strumming technique. Dolly’s famed chord progression is what makes the song so catchy and Ryan shows he has mastered the song.
When his beautiful daughter, who is only five-years-old, kicks into the verse, her stage presence is a wonder.
“Jolene” was a huge hit for Dolly, and the song came from a real-life experience. Dolly and her husband took a trip to the bank and a tall red-headed teller took an interest and flirted with her husband. He made frequent trips to the bank after that.
The name for the song came from backstage after a show when a little girl asked for an autograph. Her name was Jolene. The song reached number one on the country charts and became one of Dolly’s first solo hits.
So many folks have paid tribute to Dolly for her extraordinary and world-changing donation.
Give Dolly Parton the Nobel Peace Prize
— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) November 17, 2020
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Just a moment of profound gratitude to @DollyParton and her COVID-19 Research Fund.
— Esther Choo MD MPH (@choo_ek) November 17, 2020
The segment ends in typical Ellen fashion, with the Burdicks getting an all-expenses paid vacation to Dollywood. That’s Dolly’s amusement park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The 150-acre theme park is visited by three million annually, making it Tennessee’s biggest attraction.
Click the video below and see this adorable little lass and her guitar phenomena father hit all the good notes on Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.”
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