Country music legend Dolly Parton and Hollywood action star Tom Cruise are among the stars to receive honorary Oscars for their contributions to humanitarian efforts and filmmaking, respectively.
They will be awarded at the 16th annual Governors Awards, which will take place on November 16 at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.
Since 1950, the Academy Honorary Award is presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to awardees for their “exceptional contributions to the motion picture arts and sciences of any discipline, or outstanding service to the Academy.”
Parton will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her “outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes,” specifically for her charitable work in child literacy. She founded the organizations: The Dollywood Foundation and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The Mission: Impossible star will be receiving his Honorary Award for his “incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community.” His fellow honorees include choreographer-actress Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas.
Parton is nearing her EGOT status, which is for those who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony — the entertainment world’s four biggest prizes. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for the television film Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square in 2021, multiple Grammy Awards throughout her illustrious music career.
Additionally, she was first nominated for an Academy Award in 1981, for Best Original Song for “9 to 5,” featured in the film of the same name, as well as for a Tony Award in 2009 for Best Original Score for 9 to 5: The Musical.
Cruise, on the other hand, was nominated for Best Actor for his roles in Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire and Best Supporting Actor for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia. As a producer, he was also nominated for Best Picture for the blockbuster hit Top Gun: Maverick, which he also starred in.