Dolly Parton has turned down another recognition that was offered to her, this time, from her home state of Tennessee. In a statement, Parton said he asked lawmakers not to consider a bill that would allow a statue of her to be built on the grounds of the state Capitol. That comes just weeks after the country’s superstar revealed it he rejected the Presidential Medal of Freedom, twice.
“I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for considering a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol precinct,” says Parton’s statement, shared on his social media pages. “I am honored and humiliated for their intent, but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to withdraw the bill from any consideration.”
The bill, introduced by state Rep. John Mark Windle, was passed by a state House committee on Feb. 9.
“Given everything that’s going on in the world, right now I don’t think it’s appropriate to put myself on a pedestal,” Parton’s statement continued. “However, I hope that somewhere along the way in a few years or maybe after I’m gone if you still feel you deserve it, I’m sure I’ll be proud of our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessee.”
The bill’s introduction comes after an online petition was created last year to urge Tennessee State House to replace the state’s Confederate statues with Parton statues. “Aside from her beautiful music, which has touched the hearts and lives of millions of Americans, Dolly Parton’s philanthropic heart has unquestionably changed the world for the better,” the petition says.
Parton founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988, which focuses on literacy and education in the home county of Sevier County, Tennessee. And their donations have been globalized recently. In November, it was revealed that he helped fund research for COVID-19[feminine vacuna desenvolupada per Modern.
La icona de la música i el filantrop van fer un Contribució d’un milió de dòlars cap als esforços de recerca del coronavirus a la Universitat de Vanderbilt a l’abril.
Tot i que Parton ha fet molt pel seu estat d’origen i pel món, s’ha mantingut humil i ha rebutjat els reconeixements per la seva feina.
Durant una entrevista amb “Today” de NBC a principis d’aquest mes, Parton va revelar se li va oferir la Medial Presidencial de Llibertat per l’administració Trump dues vegades. “No ho podia acceptar perquè el meu marit estava malalt. Després em van tornar a preguntar sobre això i no viatjaria per culpa del COVID”.
“Ara tinc la sensació que si ho prenc, faré política, així que no estic segura”, va dir, afegint que ni tan sols està segura si s’ho mereix.
Parton va concloure la seva declaració sobre l’estàtua del Tennessee dient que “continuarà intentant fer una bona feina per fer orgullós aquest gran estat”.