Country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton on Thursday asked Tennessee lawmakers to drop a bill to have a statue erected in her honor at the state Capitol, saying it’s not the right time in the country for her to be placed on a “pedestal.”
“I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds,” Ms. Parton wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. “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,” she 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.”
Democratic State Rep. John Windle introduced legislation last month that would place a statue of Ms. Parton on the state Capitol grounds in Nashville, honoring her for her contributions to the state.
Mr. Windle did not respond to Ms. Parton’s tweet.
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) February 18, 2021
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