Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital: East Tennessee Hospital Renamed

Dolly Parton has long been known for her commitment to helping those in her native Tennessee and for helping children. And she’s done so with businesses and programs including her Dollywood theme park and the Imagination Library, which provides books for children under age 5.

Now, the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville, Tenn., is getting a new name — the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital.

In a video announcement, Parton said, “Now I’ve always believed that every child deserves a fair chance to grow up, healthy, hopeful and surrounded by love. That belief is what brought me together with the incredible folks at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. For nearly 90 years, their teams have provided compassionate and talented care. They see children not just as patients, but as precious lives, each with a story and with a future … when we come together for our children, there’s no limit to what we can do.”

The Knoxville-based East Tennessee Children’s Hospital opened in 1937. The 152-bed medical center is certified by the state of Tennessee as one of four comprehensive regional pediatric centers, and offers full capabilities to care for seriously ill children in a unique environment. The hospital also works with smaller ones to provide pediatric health care training opportunities.

“This is more than a name change,” Matt Schaefer, president and CEO of Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, said in a statement. “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.” 

Watch Parton’s full video announcing hospital’s name change and new era below: