Dolly Parton asked Tennessee lawmakers not to go ahead with installing a statue in her honor on the state capitol.
The country music legend posted a new message on Thursday on Twitter asking his home state to stop the proposed bill, although she is “honored and humiliated” with the gesture.
“I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for considering a bill to erect a statue of me on Capitol Hill. I am honored and humble for its intention, but I asked the leaders of the state legislature to withdraw the bill from any and all consideration,” says his declaration.
“Considering everything that is happening in the world, I don’t think putting myself on a pedestal is appropriate at this point. I hope, however, that somewhere along the way, several years from now or maybe after I leave, I still feel I deserve it. , so I’m sure I’ll be proud of our great state capitol as a grateful Tennessean, “concluded Parton.
DOLLY PARTON STATUE PROPOSED IN THE TENNESSEE CAPITOL FOUNDATIONS
State Representative John Windle (D-Livingston) proposed this statue on the property to recognize all of the country’s icon’s contributions to the state and a House committee approved the project on February 9.
In June, an online petition was filed suggesting that a statue of Parton, 75, should replace those dedicated to Confederate officials.
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“Tennessee is full of statues in honor of Confederate officials,” says the petition. “The story shouldn’t be forgotten, but we don’t need to glamorize those who don’t deserve our praise. Instead, we’re going to honor a true Tennessee hero, Dolly Parton.”
The petition cited his music, the Parton Dollywood Foundation and philanthropy as reasons for his potential recognition.
Fans wanted a statue of Dolly Parton on the grounds of the state capitol because of his contributions to philanthropy and music over his decades-long career.
(Wade Payne / Invision / AP, Archive)
“We are going to replace the statues of men who sought to destroy this country with a monument to the woman who worked all her life to bring us together,” says the petition.
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Recently, the “9 to 5” singer was publicly praised for her $ 1 million donation to Vanderbilt University’s coronavirus research, which helped Moderna develop a vaccine they said was almost 95% effective, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.
Fans accessed Twitter in November 2020 to thank her, jokingly, crediting her with “saving the world” with her donation.
Parton later spoke to “Today“about the vaccine and the role it plays in its development.
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“I am very happy that anything I do can help someone else,” she said. “When I donated the money to COVID[-19] I just wanted you to do good and, of course, it is! Let’s just hope that we can find a cure soon. “
Fox News’ Nate Day contributed to this report.