Barack Obama was President of the United States for an entire eight years. That’s a long time to have that much power—but the man admits he has some regrets. One of those? Is not giving legendary country singer Dolly Parton a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

According to the White House website, The Presidential Medal of Freedom is “an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made ‘an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.’”

Obama admitted defeat while appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert when he asked why Dolly Parton doesn’t have one of these.

“That’s a mistake,” Obama replied. “I’m shocked.”

“Looking back on your eight years, do you realize that’s a mistake you made?” Colbert asked the former president to confirm. “Actually, that was a screw up. I think I assumed that she had already got one and that was incorrect,” he said, adding that he’ll call Joe Biden so he can get on that.

Most people would agree. After the clip from the show was shared, hundreds of people shared how much Parton has contributed to the world and why, they too, believed she deserved a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Here are just some of the contributions Parton has made both this year and in the past:

• Helped fund the Moderna coronavirus vaccine to help put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic

• Sent over 130 million books to children worldwide through the Imagination Library to help kids learn to read and promote education

• Raised $9 million for Great Smoky Mountains wildfire victims

• Raised money for and contributed to AIDS research

• Worked to keep the bald eagle from becoming extinct

Not for nothing, but the woman contributed to a happy holiday season this year with a new Christmas album, Netflix movie, sweater line, and bakeware collection. And those things definitely deserve some recognition.

In all seriousness, we hope she gets recognized for all of her efforts soon. Go, Dolly, go!

To watch the clip of Obama on Colbert’s show, check out the video below.

Are you a Dolly Parton fan? Do you think she should have received a Presidential Medal of Freedom?

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