The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is finally giving an Oscar award to legendary country music star and LGBTQ+ ally Dolly Parton. She has been nominated twice before for Best Original Song, but her upcoming will honor her humanitarian work.On Tuesday, the Academy said it would give Parton the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award this coming November, recognizing her decades-long humanitarian efforts. Honorary Oscars will also be presented to scientologist actor Tom Cruise, choreographer Debbie Allen, and production designer Wynn Thomas, Variety reported. Related Dolly Parton gives surprise gift to Texas queen who fought states drag ban I honestly cant believe its even real, the drag performer said. Part of Dolly Partons humanitarian work has involved supporting charities and various causes. In 1988, she established the Dollywood Foundation, which has since been re-named the Imagination Library. The charity donates library books to children around the world. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Throughout her career, she has donated money to scholarships, big buddy programs, and other educational initiatives to increase graduation rates in her hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee. In 2002, the Dollywood Foundation began giving the Chasing Rainbows Award to a teacher who has overcome obstacles in his/her life and is making a difference in the lives of children.In 1991, she established the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, a 30,000-square-foot aviary for the countrys largest collection of non-releasable bald eagles. She has also helped raise millions for wildfire victims, a hospital in her hometown, andthe development of the COVID-19 vaccine. She has also donated her time to causes likereading books to children during the COVID-19 pandemicso theyd be less scared. Parton has been nominated for two Oscars in the pastParton received an Academy Award Best Original Song nomination for the theme song to the satirical 1980 workplace comedy9to5, in which she co-starred withJane Fondaandlesbian comedienne Lily Tomlin. She also performed The Day I Fall in Love, a song from the 1993 childrens canine comedy Beethovens 2nd; the songs writers received a Best Original Song Academy Award nomination.Parton also received another Best Original Song Academy Award nomination for Travelin Thru, a song she wrote specifically for the 2005 transgender family road trip comedyTransamerica.She said she received death threats for the songs pro-trans message.Parton was also a co-owner of Sandollar Productions,whose 1989 documentaryCommon Threads: Stories from the Quilt won anAcademy Award for Best Documentary Feature. A quick history of Dolly Partons LGBTQ+ activismParton has spoken against transphobic bathroom bills,tellingCNN Money, I think everybody should be treated with respect, and adding, If I have to pee, Im gonna pee, wherever its got to be.Dolly Parton has long supported same-sex marriage equality. She has joked, Why cant they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do, but she thoughtfully added, I think love is love, and we have no control over that I think people should be allowed to [marry].In 2011, when a woman at a Dollywood amusement park was told to turn her pro-marriage equality T-shirt inside-out, Dolly Parton personally apologized, saying, Everyone knows of my personal support of the gay and lesbian community. She also promised that such a thing would never happen again. She has spoken against anti-LGBTQ+ Christians, saying, If people want to pass judgment, theyre already sinning I try to love everybody. However, Parton isnt perfect. She angered some fans by saying that some people may identify as nonbinary or pansexualbecause its fashionable or for effect.However, she has embraced her gay fans. Ina 2016New York Timesinterview, Parton said, I have a huge gay following, and Im proud of them. Sometimes some of them look more like me than I do. She may have referenced that she once lost a Dolly Parton look-alike drag contest. I didnt win, she toldGood Morning Americain 2009. I didnt even come in close.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.