Dolly Parton and Tom Cruise to receive honorary Oscars in star-studded tribute

Entertainment icon Dolly Parton is making room on her mantle piece after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced they will award the star with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

She will be joined by legends who made their names in front of the camera, and behind the scenes in Tinseltown including movie star and producer Tom Cruise, actor and choreographer Debbie Allen, and production designer Wynn Thomas.

The honorees will receive their Oscar statuettes at the annual Academy’s Governors Awards gala dinner in November, which recognises lifetime achievement within the film industry.

All four Oscar statuettes will be presented at the gala dinner which takes place in the landmark Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.

Parton will be given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award which recognises someone in the movie industry whose “humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry by promoting human welfare and contributing to rectifying inequities,” as stated per the Academy’s website.

In 1995, the multitalented singer-songwriter established the Imagination Library which has provided more than 284 million free books to children so far, as well as starring in movies including Steel Magnolias, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and 9 to 5.

As yet, she’s received two Oscar nominations for best song, for the films 9 to 5 and Transamerica.

Academy President Janet Yang told Variety magazine that 2025’s Governors Awards will celebrate “four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact.”

“The Academy’s Board of Governors is honored to recognize these brilliant artists,” she said per Variety.

“Beloved performer Dolly Parton exemplifies the spirit of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award through her unwavering dedication to charitable efforts,” she added.

Meanwhile, Tom Cruise will be honored for his decades of work in films such as Risky Business, two Top Gun movies and several other films with the accolade coming 35 years after he received his first Oscar nomination for Born on the Fourth of July. Later, he was nominated for his star turn in Jerry Maguire (1997), as well as Best Supporting Actor for Magnolia (2000).

Allen appeared in films such as Fame and Ragtime, then went on to choreograph the Academy Awards ceremony seven times, while production designer Thomas worked on best picture winner A Beautiful Mind as well as several Spike Lee Films including She’s Gotta Have It and Do the Right Thing.

– with Reuters.