‘Every child deserves world-class care’ | ETCH rebrands to Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital
For nearly 90 years, East Tennessee Children's Hospital has delivered transformative and expert pediatric care.
Regional namesake Dolly Parton announced a generational partnership with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital to rename the pediatric system Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital.
For nearly 90 years, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital has delivered transformative pediatric care to families across the region. The system now treats more than 500,000 patients every year and offers more than 35 pediatric specialties.
“Being fortunate to have grown up in the mountains of East Tennessee, I learned early on what it means to take care of one another,” said Dolly Parton. “Every child deserves world-class care, wrapped in kindness and love. I’m so honored to stand alongside this hospital and do my part to help bring more hope, more comfort, and more healing to children and families.”
With the renaming, Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital will continue its longstanding mission to improve the health and well-being of children through exceptional, comprehensive, family-centered care. The hospital is also certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center, according to the hospital’s official announcement.
“This is more than a name change,” said Matt Schaefer, President and CEO of Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. “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.”
Although the announcement did not disclose the monetary value of Parton’s contribution, hospital leaders emphasized that the partnership will support expanded access to high-quality care. They also noted that existing patients should expect no operational changes in their day-to-day experience.
“I’ve always believed that every child deserves a fair chance to grow up healthy, hopeful, and surrounded with love,” Parton said in the video announcement.
Other Dolly-driven community development initiatives
This partnership marks yet another far-reaching philanthropic effort from the global music icon. Parton’s Imagination Library has gifted more than 264,181,752 books since its inception, and those numbers were recorded in 2024. 2025 impact reports have not yet been made available.
Dollywood, her flagship park in Sevierville, also remains an economic force. With more than 4,000 employees, it is the largest employer in Sevier County and generates an estimated 23,000 total jobs in the broader region. The park attracts roughly three million visitors per year, driving substantial business to hotels, restaurants, and retail throughout East Tennessee.
To learn more about Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, you can view the official announcement on the hospital’s website.
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