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Country music legend Dolly Parton received her first shot of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, quipping she got “a dose of her own medicine.”
Parton donated $1 million to COVID-19 research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., last year, which in turn helped the development of Moderna’s MRNA, -6.73% coronavirus vaccine.
“I’m so excited. I’ve been waiting a while,” Parton, 75, said in a video posted Tuesday on social media. “I’m old enough to get it, and I’m smart enough to get it.”
The video showed Dr. Naji Abumrad of Vanderbilt administering the shot, which she said didn’t hurt.
Parton tweaked the lyrics of her song “Jolene” for the occasion: “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine,” she sang. “I’m begging of you please don’t hesitate/ Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine/’Cuz once you’re dead, that’s a bit too late.”
Parton also encouraged everyone to get vaccinated so life can “get back to normal, whatever that is.”
“Don’t be such a chicken squat,” she chided, “get out there and get your shot!”
On Monday, President Joe Biden said the nationwide vaccination rollout is moving ahead of schedule, and he expects the U.S. to have enough coronavirus vaccines for all adult Americans by the end of May, two months earlier than anticipated.
