Dolly Parton Honors Dan Rather: ‘He Tells The Stories That Matter’

Dolly Parton presented legendary journalist Dan Rather with the Peabody Award, introducing him (via video) by saying (per Variety), "For more than six decades, Dan Rather has brought his righteous passion, his intelligence, his boldness, his humor, and his commitment to the truth to the public arena."

She added, "His life's work has been to ask the questions that matter and to tell the stories that matter."

Parton also said of the former CBS Evening News anchor, "To this day, Dan has stayed dedicated to fighting the disinformation, the chaos, and division that has defined recent years in America. His voice and his reflections remain vibrant for millions of us, standing out from the crowd and noise of social media."

The recipient of the career achievement award is selected by the Peabody Board of Jurors, honoring individuals who have made an impact on the field of broadcasting and digital media and contributed to the course of American culture.

Past honorees include Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno, Cicely Tyson, and Sam Pollard.

The remaining 30 winners of the 82nd Annual Peabody Awards will be announced throughout a multi-day virtual event spanning June 6 to June 9.