Former President Barack Obama has admitted to one major “screwup” from his eight years in the White House.
During a recent interview with “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, the two-term Democrat, out promoting his new memoir “A Promised Land,” said he messed up in failing to honor country music legend Dolly Parton with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“That’s a mistake,” said Obama upon learning Parton has never received the high honor. “I’m shocked. … Actually, that was a screwup. I’m surprised. I think I had assumed she already got one. That was in correct. I’m surprised. She deserves one. I’ll call [former Vice President Joe] Biden.”
As president, Obama bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon a whole host of famous Americans, including Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Robert De Niro, Ellen DeGeneres, Michael Jordan, Tom Hanks, Cicely Tyson, and Meryl Streep.
“Looking back at your eight years,” Colbert quipped of Obama’s failure to recognize Parton, “do you realize that’s the mistake you made?”
The “Jolene” singer-songwriter has not yet addressed Obama’s remarks.
Parton has gained quite a bit of attention in recent weeks as a sizable donation she made in the spring has been used to develop a COVID-19 vaccination developed by the biotech company Moderna.
In April, Parton sent a $1 million check to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where researchers and scientists had begun searching for a cure to the novel coronavirus.
“I’m just happy that anything I do can help somebody else,” she said after learning her money went to develop a vaccine. “When I donated the money to the COVID fund, I just wanted it to do good and, evidently, it is!”
“Let’s just hope we find a cure real soon,” Parton added.
A vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is awaiting final approval from the Food and Drug Administration. As soon as it receives the green light, the company will begin distributing its immunization.
Moderna could likewise receive FDA approval following a Dec.17 hearing.