Dolly Parton Accepts Honorary Oscar Virtually; Tom Cruise Finally Wins Academy Award

Dolly Parton delivered a heartfelt speech virtually at Sunday’s Governors Awards as she accepted an honorary Oscar in the form of The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

The 79-year-old music legend had previously canceled her appearance for the award show, which was held Sunday at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood, California due to mystery ‘health challenges.’

The Pittman Center, Tennessee-born still produced a charming video for audience members and fans as she was presented with an honorary Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

‘From my heart to yours, I truly thank you,’ the Jolene singer said in her speech, after explaining how she valued the honors being bestowed upon her.

‘I grew up in a house with 12 kids,’ Parton said. ‘Now, that alone teaches you how important sharing is. Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t have that much to share.

‘But my mom and daddy showed me by example that the more you give, the more blessings come your way.’

The 9 to 5 singer said she’s ‘tried [her] whole life to live by their example’ and in turn, has ‘been blessed more than I ever dreamed possible.’

The Steel Magnolias star continued: ‘Like this award tonight – The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences.

‘It’s an honor just to be considered, but to receive this? I mean, that’s a blessing of a lifetime – and I don’t take this kind of thing lightly.’ 

Parton said that the honors made her ‘want to dream up new ways to help lift people up – and isn’t that what we’re supposed to be here for?’

Parton also showed her gratitude to 9 to 5 co-star Lily Tomlin, who introduced her from the venue in Los Angeles.

‘I want to thank my good buddy Lily Tomlin for presenting me with this award,’ she said. ‘Hi, Lily, I love you.

Parton thanked the Academy for choosing her as this year’s recipient for the honors, which are ‘given to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry by promoting human welfare and contributing to rectifying inequities,’ according to the institution.

‘I also want to thank the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences for this great honor,’ she said.

Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Geena Davis, Tyler Perry, Michael J. Fox and the late Jerry Lewis and Debbie Reynolds are among those to receive the honors. 

Other people presented with honorary Oscars Sunday included A-lister Tom Cruise; choreographer Debbie Allen; and production designer Wynn Thomas.

Cruise wowed the audience with an impassioned speech about his love for movies.  

‘The cinema, it takes me around the world,’ the A-list action star said as he accepted the honors. ‘It helps me to appreciate and respect differences.’

He added, ‘It shows me also our shared humanity, how alike we are in so, so many ways.

‘And no matter where we come from, in that theater, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together, and that is the power of this art form. And that is why it matters, that is why it matters to me.’

Cruise, who famously sends his celebrity friends fancy cakes every holiday season, declared that ‘making films is not what I do, it is who I am.’