Dolly Parton

In April, Parton announced she was giving the money to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

That was one of the trial sites for the Moderna vaccine, which is nearly 95% effective, according to early data.

A Vanderbilt spokesperson said Parton's "generous" gift was helping "several promising research initiatives".

A portion of the singer's money went towards funding an early stage trial of the Moderna vaccine.

'Very promising research'

The country star picked up best contemporary Christian song for God Only Knows, a duet with King & Country.

Rap star Lil Nas X also picked up his first Grammy in the best video category for his viral hit Old Town Road.

Many recipients have paid tribute to basketball star Kobe Bryant, who played for 20 years at the Staples Arena, where the Grammys are taking place.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr opened the pre-show, where the bulk of the night's 84 awards are distributed, by recognising the star's contribution.

It was announced Tuesday that costars Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton from the hit 1980 movie will present Tomlin, who was also in the film, with the SAG Life Achievement Award at the 23rd Annual SAG Awards.

Tomlin is being recognized for her extraordinary career in Hollywood. Tomlin can add this to her many accolades, which include two Peabody Awards, six Emmy Awards, a Grammy and a 2014 Kennedy Center Award.

Growing up in rural Tennessee, the singer recalls many families not sending their children to school. "Kids had to go to the fields and work to help support all of these big families."

Parton's father was illiterate. "My own father didn't get a chance to go to school," she says. "He couldn't read and write, and that hindered him a great deal because he was so smart. It really bothered him a lot."

The R&B singer's album Blonde has had combined sales of 32,000, including 26,000 downloads, since being released via iTunes and Apple Music on Saturday.

That put it ahead of Dolly Parton's 43rd studio album Pure & Simple.

And David Brent's Life On The Road, the soundtrack for Gervais's new film of the same name, is at number three.

Canadian rapper Drake is at number four with Views, followed by Bob Marley, whose compilation Legend is a non-mover at number five.

The Dolly Parton movie, "Coat of Many Colors," reached more than 13 million viewers. That landed the program in the Nielsen company's weekly Top Ten last week, and exceeded the viewership for the live production of "The Wiz" earlier this month. Preliminary ratings show that NBC did well on Monday night with the Adele concert special.