Obama admits not awarding Dolly Parton the Medal of Freedom was a ‘screw up’

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2017 file photo, Dolly Parton arrives at the 69th Primetime Emmy...
FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2017 file photo, Dolly Parton arrives at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards Variety and Women in Film pre-Emmy celebration in Los Angeles. Parton will be honored at the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute event next year. The Recording Academy announced Tuesday that Parton will be the first artist from the Nashville music community honored at the annual MusiCares charity gala, which raises money for those in the musical community in times of financial, medical and personal need. The tribute will be held in Los Angeles on Feb. 8. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)(Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Updated: Dec. 2, 2020 at 7:13 PM EST
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JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Barack Obama is now admitting that not awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to country legend Dolly Parton was a “screw up.”

While appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the former president was asked how Parton never received the award during a segment entitled “Questions We’re Pretty Sure Barack Obama Has Never Been Asked Before.”

“That’s a mistake,” Obama responded bluntly. “I’m shocked. Actually, that was a screw up.”

The Medal of Freedom is an award given by the president to any individual who has made a contribution to the United States in the form of world peace, culture or any other significant public or private endeavor.

Obama said that he assumed Parton had already received the honor and that she deserves one. “I’ll call Biden,” he said.

Former First Lady Hillary Clinton seemed to agree that Parton deserves the award, asking President-elect Joe Biden to “please get this done” on Twitter.

Recipients of the President Medal of Freedom include: Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Hanks, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jordan.

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