Dolly Parton has turned down another award that was presented to her – this time from her home state of Tennessee. In a statement, Parton said she had asked lawmakers not to consider a bill that would allow a statue of her to be built on the Capitol grounds. This comes just weeks after the country superstar revealed that she turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice
“I would like to thank the Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds,” said Parton’s statement, shared on her social media pages. “I am honored and humbled by their intent, but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to strike the law out of every consideration.”
The bill, introduced by state representative John Mark Windle, was passed by a committee of the state house on Feb. 9. But if Parton gets her way, it won’t go any further.
“Given all that’s going on in the world, I don’t think it’s appropriate at this point to put me on a pedestal,” continued Parton’s statement. ‘However, I hope that somewhere down the road in a number of years or maybe after I’m gone, if you still feel I deserve it, I’m sure I’ll be proud of our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean. ‘
The bill’s introduction comes after an online petition was filed last year urging the Tennessee State House to replace Confederate statues in the state with statues of Parton. “Beyond 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, which focuses on literacy and education in her home country of Sevier County, Tennessee. And her gifts have recently gone worldwide. In November, it was revealed she helped fund research for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Modern
The music icon and philanthropist made one $ 1 million contribution on research into the coronavirus at Vanderbilt University in April.
While Parton has done much for her home state – and the world – she has remained humble and rejected accolades for her work.
During an interview with NBC’s “Today” earlier this month, Parton revealed she was offered twice the Presidential Medial of Freedom by the Trump administration. “I couldn’t accept it because my husband was sick. Then they asked me about it again and I didn’t want to travel because of the COVID.”
“Now I feel like if I take it I’m going to be doing politics so I’m not sure,” she said, adding that she’s not even sure she deserves it.
Parton closed her statement on the Tennessee statue by saying she “will continue to try to do a good job of making this great state proud.”