Dolly Parton Urges Tennessee Lawmakers Against Building Statue Of Her

Dolly Parton has responded to a bill that, if passed, would see a statue of her raised on the Capitol grounds in downtown Nashville.

In a statement published via social media Thursday (February 18), the country music icon and Tennessee native respectfully asked lawmakers not to go through with the bill, which Representative John Mark Windle proposed in January.

“I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds,” Parton began her post. “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 putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time,” the “9 to 5” singer continued. “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.”

Parton concluded, “In the meantime, I’ll continue to try to do good work to make this great state proud.”

More than a month ago, Windle introduced House Bill 135, which proposed the State Capitol Commission to "develop and implement a plan for the commissioning of a statue of Dolly Parton … for all that she contributed to this state.”

This isn't the first time Tennesseans have urged for an homage to the hometown hero, as a 2020 petition received upwards of 25,000 signatures pushing for Confederate memorials at the Capitol to be replaced with one of Parton.

Photo: Getty Images


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