Dolly Parton has received the Covid vaccine she helped to fund - watch her sing as she gets it

Country music icon Dolly Parton has received a dose of the Covid vaccine that she helped to fund.

Parton, who is 75-years-old, was inoculated with the jab developed by Moderna after singing a revised version of her hit song Jolene.

In a video posted on Tuesday 2 March, she can be seen wearing a long-sleeved top with cut-out shoulders and her signature fingerless gloves before a doctor gives her the injection.

She was credited with helping to fund the vaccine after donating a huge sum to Vanderbilt University Medical Centre last year.

So, why did Parton donate to coronavirus vaccine research, what are the lyrics to her vaccine song - and why does she wear gloves?

Here is everything you need to know.

How much did Dolly Parton donate to fund the Moderna vaccine?

Parton, whose net worth is said to be $500million, donated no less than $1million to help to fund the production of the Moderna vaccine.

A portion of the singer’s generous donation went towards funding an early-stage trial of the jab.

In initial trials, the Moderna vaccine was found to offer almost 95 per cent protection against coronavirus.

When Moderna, an American company, announced the efficacy of its jab, Parton was named as a donor.

A report published in the New England Journal of Medicine refers to support from different groups including the “Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)”.

Back in April 2020, Parton announced that she had donated the substantial sum to Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, based in Nashville, Tennessee, to support coronavirus vaccine research.

The star’s donation also supported a convalescent plasma study at Vanderbilt, which involved treating infected people with the plasma of others who already had virus antibodies.

Why did she help to fund the jab?

Parton revealed why she made the generous donation last year, referring to her “longtime friend” Dr Naji Abumrad who works at the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation at the university.

He had told her that the institute was making “some exciting advancements” in the search for a Covid-19 cure.

The country music icon then decided to donate towards the work in the hope that other people would follow suit.

Speaking to BBC’s The One Show, she said: “I’m sure many, many millions of dollars from many people went into that [research fund] but I felt so proud to have been part of that little seed money that hopefully will grow into something great and help to heal this world – Lord knows we need it!”

What are the lyrics to the Jolene vaccine song?

To mark the occasion when she received her vaccine, Parton changed the lyrics to her song Jolene.

In the video, filmed from the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, the star breaks into song.

To the iconic tune of Jolene, perhaps her most famous hit of all time, Parton sings: “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I’m begging of you, please don’t hesitate.

“Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, because once you’re dead, then that’s a bit too late.”

The musician told fans in the clip that she had been “waiting a while” to receive her jab.

She said: "I'm old enough to get it and I'm smart enough to get it.”