Dolly Parton declines Tennessee legislators bill to erect statue of her on Capitol grounds

Dolly Parton politely asks Tennessee lawmakers not to erect monument of her on Capitol grounds to replace confederate statue

  • Dolly Parton, 75, has pushed back on a bill aiming to erect a monument of her on the Capitol grounds in her home state of Tennessee 
  •  State representative John Mark Windle introduced legislation last month to create and design a statue of her after more than 25,000 people signed a petition last year to replace confederate statues with her likeness
  • The veteran songstress addressed the bill on social media and said she would like it removed from ‘any and all consideration’ adding that it was not ‘appropriate’ at this time

Dolly Parton is pushing back on a petitioned bill to erect a monument of her in her home state of Tennessee

State representative John Mark Windle introduced legislation last month to create and design a statue of the veteran songstress, 75, to honor her legacy and contributions, after more than 25,000 people signed a petition to replace a confederate statue with her likeness. 

Though admittedly ‘humbled’ by the offer, Parton spoke out on social media Thursday as she politely declined the idea from ‘any and all consideration’, adding that it did not seem ‘appropriate.’

A national treasure: Dolly Parton, 75, has declined Tennessee legislators’ bill to erect a monument of her in place of confederate statues as she shared on social media that although she was humbled it was not ‘appropriate’; pictured 2019

‘I want to thank Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds. I am honored and humbled  by their intention but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill from any and all consideration. 

‘Given all that is going on in the world, I don’t think it’s appropriate at this time. I hope, though, that somewhere down the road several years from now or perhaps after I’m gone if you still feel I deserve it, then I’m certain I will stand proud in our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean.

‘In the meantime, I’ll continue to try to do good work to make this great state proud,’ she wrote. 

No thanks! The veteran songstress said she would like the idea removed from 'any and all consideration,' after a petition popped up last year to erect her likeness on the Capitol grounds in her home state

No thanks! The veteran songstress said she would like the idea removed from ‘any and all consideration,’ after a petition popped up last year to erect her likeness on the Capitol grounds in her home state 

The bill picked up speed in recent weeks after her notable $1M contribution to fund research for the Moderna vaccine to combat the COVID-19 virus.   

Despite that, in an interview with Associated Press she said she was waiting to get her vaccine until people that needed it more urgently got theirs. 

‘I’m not going to get mine until some more people get theirs. I don’t want it to look like I’m jumping the line just because I donated money. I’m very funny about that,’ she said.  

Additionally she turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the Trump administration citing personal reasons, while adding that President Joe Biden has also made the same offer. 

‘I couldn’t accept it because my husband was ill and then they asked me again about it and I wouldn’t travel because of the COVID,’ she told NBC’s Today.   

In demand: The songstress turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice after both the Trump and Biden administrations had offered it to her; pictured 2019

In demand: The songstress turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice after both the Trump and Biden administrations had offered it to her; pictured 2019

‘Now I feel like if I take it, I’ll be doing politics, so I’m not sure,’ Parton shared. 

Always humble she added, ‘I don’t work for those awards. It’d be nice but I’m not sure that I even deserve it. But it’s a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it.’ 

Turning 75 on January 19, she continued with a very selfless birthday wish – kindness. 

She wrote on Twitter, ‘This year my birthday wish is a call for kindness…Love too often gets buried in a world of hurt and fear.’

A longtime philanthropist, she also founded The Dollywood Foundation in 1988 which has a focus on literacy and education in her home state. 

Spread kindness: She told NBC today that she does not 'work for awards,' humbly adding 'I'm not sure that I even deserve it' with regards to the numerous accolades she has received over the years

Spread kindness: She told NBC today that she does not ‘work for awards,’ humbly adding ‘I’m not sure that I even deserve it’ with regards to the numerous accolades she has received over the years 

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