Dolly Parton's Sister Slams Politicians Over Coronavirus Vaccine

ACROSS AMERICA — We all know that Dolly Parton is as sweet as a buttered biscuit with honey. As for her younger sister, Stella, she's one southern belle who isn't afraid to give her two cents on a heated issue, especially when it involves the coronavirus pandemic and the less privileged.

The country music legend's younger sibling recently slammed politicians who recently got the COVID-19 vaccine — yet failed to donate one cent to vaccine research — ahead of vulnerable Americans.

"If a little hillbilly singer like my big sister, Dolly, can invest in the vaccine, then why the hell can’t some of you old moldy politicians pitch in a few million yourselves?" Stella posted on Twitter. " I noticed you started getting vaccinated right away while people are starving and dying you a-holes."

On April 1, Dolly posted on her officials Instagram account that she had donated $1 million to coronavirus vaccine research at Vanderbilt University. It's there scientists eventually developed a vaccine for the United States biotech firm, Moderna.

"My longtime friend, Dr. Naji Abumrad, who's been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards research of the coronavirus for a cure," Dolly posted at the time. "I'm a making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that they can afford to make donations."

Last Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use of Moderna in the U.S. for people 18 years of age and older. The FDA approved the emergency us of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 11.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities should be offered the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

However, quite a few politicians have already received the vaccine shortly after it was made available—a move that ruffled Stella's feathers quite a bit. U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nancy Pelosi received the Pfizer-BioNTech on Friday, publicly documenting the process for their constituents.

Vice President Mike Pence, second lady Karen Pence, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams were also given their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on live television Friday.

Other politicians to receive the COVID-19 vaccine have included Senate leader Mitch McConnell, Sens. Mitt Romney, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Edward Markey.

Some politicians have criticized fellow lawmakers for quickly signing up to get the vaccine, like Rep-elect Nancy Mace of South Carolina.

"Congress shouldn’t be putting themselves first in line for the COVID-19 vaccination when the average American can’t get it," the Republican congresswoman said. "For as long as the vaccines are limited, we should prioritize healthcare and frontline workers, and every person at greater risk, especially the elderly."

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, echoed Mace's sentiments.

"We are not more important then frontline workers, teachers etc. who are making sacrifices everyday. Which is why I won’t take it. People who need it most should get it," she tweeted.

While Stella's initial social media post was critical of politicians, she also had harsh words for televangelists who failed to donate to vaccine research as well.

"I haven’t heard of one Televangelist donating one damn cent to the research fund but they sure can fleece the flock and try to cast out demons when they are possessed themselves!" she posted to Twitter.