Barack Obama Regrets Not Awarding Dolly Parton the Presidential Medal of Freedom
He calls failing to give Parton the Presidential Medal of Freedom a 'screwup!'
Stephen Colbert uncovered a scandal implicating Barack Obama during a recent sit-down interview with the former President, and it involves country great Dolly Parton.
The 44th President of the United States was appearing as a guest on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in a fun segment called “Questions We’re Pretty Sure Barack Obama Has Never Been Asked” when the bombshell news dropped. First the host tossed a few softballs about Obama’s favorite Monopoly playing piece and whether he prefers Dairy Queen or Wendy’s ice cream, and then “How does Dolly Parton not have a Presidential Medal of Freedom?”
“That’s a mistake, I’m shocked,” the former most powerful man in the world replied, looking like he was honestly taken aback.
It’s true. Parton has been bestowed with countless awards over her decades-long reign as an American icon, including the National Medal of Arts in 2005. She was also celebrated by the George W. Bush administration at the Kennedy Center Honors for “a lifetime of contributions to American culture” in 2006. But she’s still got an empty spot on her mantel for the nation’s highest civilian honor.
“Looking back at your eight years, do you realize that’s the mistake you made?” Colbert pressed on.
“Actually, that was a screwup,” Obama admitted. “I’m surprised. I think I assumed that she had already gotten one, and that was incorrect.”
Obama was on the show to promote his new memoir, A Promised Land, and he may not have the authority to directly fix this obvious miscue anymore. But it does sound like he’s willing to at least try making things right.
“She deserves one,” he said. “I’ll call Biden.”
Today, Parton kicked off 2020’s virtual Jingle Challenge with Nashville’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, calling on fans around the country to spread joy with uplifting messages of hope to patients, families and staff. Along with help from country stars like Blake Shelton, Lauren Alaina, Jon Pardi, Sara Evans and more, she hopes to send 10,000 holiday messages to children and staff at the Nashville children’s hospital.
