After nearly 90 years, a children’s hospital in Tennessee has a new name. And it belongs to someone who has spent decades helping kids.

Introduction

After nearly nine decades of caring for children across East Tennessee, a beloved pediatric institution has entered a new chapter—one that carries the name of a woman whose generosity has touched generations.

**East Tennessee Children’s Hospital** has officially been renamed **Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital**, honoring the lifelong philanthropy of **Dolly Parton** and her enduring commitment to children’s wellbeing.

Founded in 1937, the Knoxville hospital has long served as a lifeline for families throughout the region. Leaders describe the renaming not as a symbolic gesture, but as the beginning of a generational partnership aimed at strengthening pediatric care for decades to come. Along with her name, the hospital has adopted Parton’s signature butterfly emblem—an image long associated with hope, growth, and compassion.

In announcing the collaboration, Parton shared a simple belief that has guided much of her charitable work: every child deserves the chance to grow up “healthy, hopeful, and surrounded with love.” She encouraged the community to rally behind the hospital’s mission and continue supporting families in need.

For years, the hospital has upheld an open-door promise—no child is turned away because their family cannot afford treatment. With Parton’s support, administrators expect to expand programs, upgrade facilities, and extend specialized care to even more children across East Tennessee.

The partnership also reflects a legacy of giving that stretches far beyond music. Through **Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library**, millions of free books are mailed to children around the world each month, nurturing early literacy and a love of reading. Parton has also funded scholarships, contributed to disaster relief, and supported early research efforts that helped advance a COVID-19 vaccine.

For many Tennessee families, her name has long been synonymous with kindness and quiet generosity. Now, it will stand above the doors of a children’s hospital—offering comfort, hope, and care to children when they need it most.

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