Dolly Parton paid her another tribute – this time from her home state of Tennessee. In a statement, Parton said she had asked lawmakers not to consider a bill to erect a statue of her on the grounds of the state Capitol. It comes a few weeks after the country superstar revealed she twice rejected the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for considering a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol site,” read Parton’s statement, which was shared on her social media pages. “I am honored and humbled by their intention, but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill from all consideration.”
The bill, introduced by State Representative John Mark Windle, was passed by a state committee on Feb. 9, but if Parton has her way, it will not go any further.
“Given everything that is going on in the world, I think it is not appropriate at the moment to put me on a pedestal,” Parton’s statement continued. “However, I hope that somewhere in a few years from now or when I’m still gone if you feel I deserve it, there will be somewhere beyond a grateful Tennessee pride in our great State capital.”
The introduction of the bill comes after an online petition was created last year to urge the Tennessee State House to replace the confederate statues in the state with Staton statues. “Apart from her beautiful music, which has touched the hearts and lives of millions of Americans, Dolly Parton’s philanthropic heart has undoubtedly changed the world for the better,” the petition reads.
Parton founded The Dollywood Foundation in 1988, focusing on literacy and education in her native Sevier County, Tennessee. And her giving has recently gone worldwide. In November, it was revealed that she was helping to fund research for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna.
The music icon and philanthropist have a $ 1 million contribution in the direction of the coronavirus research efforts at Vanderbilt University in April.
While Parton did much for her home state – and the world – she remained humble and received praise for her work.
During an interview with NBC’s Today earlier this month, Parton revealed was she offered the Presidential Medial of Freedom by the Trump administration twice. “I could not accept it because my husband was ill. Then they asked me about it again and I would not travel because of the COVID.”
“Now I feel like I’ll take politics if I take it, so I’m not sure,” she said, adding that she was not even sure if she deserved it.
Parton concluded her statement on the Tennessee statue by saying that she “will continue to do good work to make this great state proud.”