Dolly Parton is incredibly grateful for the Tennessee National Guard, especially now. The Country Music Hall of Fame member offered her praise for them, in a touching tribute on social media.

“How about those flyovers by the National Guard a few days ago?” Dolly said. “I’m so proud of those folks in the National Guard. My niece Danielle Parton has been part of that for years and years, and she’s always telling me all the great things that they do, so I know that both the Tennessee Army National Guard and the Tennessee Air National Guard have been working nonstop since the tornado ripped through in early March, and then moved right into the COVID-19 response.

Thank you to the @TNMilitaryDept and all of the volunteers in Tennessee and around the world helping bring aid to those in need during these difficult times ❤️ We appreciate you! pic.twitter.com/4GzqoEDbyH

— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) May 17, 2020

“Members of the Tennessee National Guard have provided tornado cleanup, search and rescue assistance, medical supply distribution, chaplain services, COVID-19 testing, and provided nurses to assist where staffing was at a critical level, due to the COVID-19, as well as maintaining their normal mission, both here and around the world,” she continued. “Every member working the response has volunteered to do so. After all, we are the Volunteer State, and I appreciate all of you, and I know that everybody else does to, so thank you so much.”

Dolly is well-known for her philanthropy, which extends into several areas of her life. In addition to her numerous charitable donations, and her Imagination Library, she also donated one million dollars to Vanderbilt Hospital, and their ongoing research efforts to find a cure for COVID-19. She was recently named the 2020 Tennessee Person of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

“This will come as a shock to most of you, but I’m not very athletic. Ha ha,” Dolly said in a statement about the honor. “I just couldn’t find tennis shoes, cleats, or blades with five-inch heels, so I gave up and settled for music. Seriously, I have always been a proud Tennessee girl and have supported all our athletics through the years; so, of course, I’m thrilled to be honored by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.”

The 2020 Tennessee Person of the Year ceremony is scheduled to take place on August 1 at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Photo Credit: Grand Ole Opry LLC / Chris Hollo