A statue of country music legend Dolly Parton can be seen in the Capitol gardens in Nashville, Tennessee – that is, if Democratic Representative John Mark Windle has something to say about it.
On Tuesday, Windle introduced a bill asking “to order a statue of Dolly Parton, to acknowledge it for all that it has contributed to this state.” According to the bill, the statue “would be located on the capitol grounds facing the Ryman Auditorium”, where the 74-year-old singer and songwriter “Jolene” has performed throughout her career.
“It’s sacred ground for me,” said Parton, 74, of the site in 2017. “It’s like coming home. It looks like your family; it looks like your mom and dad and your whole family are just surrounding you. I just have a feeling I’m not going anywhere. “
Parton, a native of Tennessee, has a robust history of philanthropy and devotion to the state, where he built his Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. The Grammy winner nine times founded the Imagination Library, which for 30 years has been encouraging children’s literature worldwide, sending books to children under the age of 5. And last year, Parton donated $ 1 million to Vanderbilt University to help fund research for the Modern Vaccine for covid19. When news of his donation was released, Parton said in the Today exposure, “I am very happy that anything I do can help someone else. “
In August, a local Nashville artist painted a mural of Parton outside The 5 Spot, citing a recent interview with the singer. “It is clear that black lives are important,” said Parton Advertising panel that month. “Do we think that our little white a ** es are the only ones that matter?”
It is not the first time that a statue of Parton has been considered. Last year, an online petition, now with more than 25,000 signatures, required a sculpture by Parton to replace the Confederate sculptures in Tennessee. And in 2019, a lawmaker suggested replacing a statue of Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest with Parton.
The bill presented last week says that the statue of Parton would not be paid for with taxpayer dollars, but with “gifts, subsidies and other donations”.
“At this point in history, is there a better example, not just in America, but in the world, of a leader who is a kind, decent and passionate human being?” Windle said on Wednesday, for The Tennessean. “(She is) a passionate person who loves everyone, and everyone loves her.”
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