Dolly Parton has put her name, her heart, and her legacy behind something deeply personal. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, a free-standing independent not-for-profit pediatric health system that has served the region for nearly 90 years, is now officially Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, marking a landmark moment for pediatric care in the region she calls home.
“Being fortunate to have grown up in the mountains of East Tennessee, I learned early on what it means to take care of one another,” Parton says. “Every child deserves world-class care, wrapped in kindness and love. I’m so honored to stand alongside this hospital and do my part to help bring more hope, more comfort and more healing to children and families.” Coming from someone who has spent decades backing that kind of commitment with real action, those words carry genuine weight.
Hospital President and CEO Matt Schaefer is equally clear about what the partnership means. “This is more than a name change. With Dolly’s support, we are strengthening our mission to deliver world-class pediatric care to families, ensuring every child who walks through our doors receives the treatment they deserve.” The hospital is certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center, and its mission of exceptional, family-centered care continues into this bold new chapter.