Dolly Parton, an iconic figure in music, a renowned global philanthropist, and 10-time GRAMMY winner, has been named the 2024 recipient of the PEACE Through Music Award. The Recording Academy and the U.S. Department of State recognized Parton for her invaluable contributions to cross-cultural understanding and her work in promoting peace through music. The award celebrates artists and music professionals whose efforts transcend borders and foster global unity.
Parton will be celebrated at the GRAMMY Museum tonight in Los Angeles, where she will be honored during a special event, which is hosted by the Recording Academy and the U.S. State Department and generously supported by Coke Studio and the Wasserman Foundation. The event also marks the culmination of the first-ever American Music Mentorship Program, which took place in Los Angeles from Oct. 15 – Oct. 25. Watch Parton’s award acceptance video below.
Throughout her storied career, Parton has embodied the principles of peace, unity and inclusion — values central to the PEACE Through Music Award. From her influential music to her philanthropic work, including her globally recognized Imagination Library and support for public health initiatives, Parton’s legacy extends far beyond the stage. Her advocacy for the COVID-19 vaccine reached millions around the world, further cementing her status as a force for good.
“Over the course of her career, Dolly Parton has been committed to enriching communities across the globe, and it’s a privilege to celebrate her dedication to service with the PEACE Through Music Award today,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said in a statement. “We are grateful to partner with the Department of State on the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, which represents an important part of the Academy’s work to support music people across the globe.”
“Dolly Parton represents the best of America – her excellence in music, her servant’s heart in giving back to those in need, and her unique ability to always bring people together,” Lee Satterfield, Acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, said in a statement. “On behalf of the American people and Secretary of State Blinken, we are honored to celebrate all of her contributions to people around the world with the PEACE Through Music Award in partnership with the Recording Academy.”
Reflecting on the honor, Parton said in a statement: “To say that I was honored to accept the PEACE Through Music Award from the Recording Academy and the U.S. State Department would be putting it mildly. I was very touched and moved by that. If I have been an inspiration in any way through some act of kindness or through some music that I have written, well, that makes me feel like I have done my job properly. Thanks again for such a great honor.”
The PEACE Through Music Award is determined by a nomination process involving U.S. foreign service officers and a commission jointly led by the State Department and the Recording Academy. The commission is represented by Recording Academy members, U.S. Department of State leadership, music industry professionals, and academia, who provide recommendations to the CEO of the Recording Academy and the Secretary of State. The final selection is made by the Recording Academy’s CEO and the U.S. Secretary of State.
The PEACE Through Music Award is part of the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, which was launched in 2023 as a collaborative effort between the Recording Academy and the State Department. The initiative aims to use music as a diplomatic platform to promote peace, economic equity, creative economies, and societal opportunity worldwide. The initiative stems from the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act, passed into law in December 2022 following advocacy by the Recording Academy.
Source publication: Grammy.com