Dolly Parton turned down another award – this time from her native Tennessee. In a statement, Parton said he had asked lawmakers not to consider a bill to allow a statue of her to be built on the State Capitol site. It comes just weeks after the country’s superstar revealed this he twice refused the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for considering a bill to raise a statue of me on Capitol Square,” Parton’s statement posted on its social media pages read. “I am honored and humiliated by their intention, but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill out of any consideration.”
The bill, introduced by State Representative John Mark Windle, was passed by a state committee in the House on Feb. 9.
“Given everything that is happening in the world, I don’t think being put on a pedestal right now is appropriate at the moment,” Parton’s statement continued. “I hope, though, that somewhere along the way, a few years from now or maybe after I left, if you still feel I deserve it, then I’m sure I’ll remain proud in our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean.”
The introduction of the bill comes after an online petition was created last year to urge the Tennessee State House to replace the state’s Confederate statues with Parton statues. “In addition to 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 said.
Parton founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988, which focuses on literacy and education in her home county, Sevier County, Tennessee. And her dedication has recently become global. In November, it was revealed that he had helped fund research for COVID-19 vaccine developed by Modern.
The music icon and the philanthropist made a $ 1 million contribution to coronavirus research efforts at Vanderbilt University in April.
While Parton did much for her homeland – and for the world – she remained humble and turned down awards for her work.
During an interview with NBC’s “Today” earlier this month, Parton revealed he was offered Presidential medal of freedom by the Trump administration twice. “I couldn’t accept it because my husband was ill. Then they asked me about it again and I wouldn’t travel because of COVID.”
“Now I feel that if I take it, I will do politics, so I am not sure,” she said, adding that she is not even sure if she deserves it.
Parton concluded his statement about the Tennessee statue by saying that “he will continue to try to do a good job to make this great state proud.”