Dolly Parton Asks Tennessee Legislature Not to Build Statue In Her Likeness

This takes the phrase 'What Would Dolly Do?' to a whole new level.

Written by Chris Parton
Dolly Parton Asks Tennessee Legislature Not to Build Statue In Her Likeness
Dolly Parton, for KING & COUNTRY and Zach Williams perform a medley of “God Only Knows”, “There Was Jesus” and “Faith” at “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards,” on Wednesday, November 13, 2019; airing live on ABC from Bridgestone Arena in Downtown Nashville; Photo courtesy of CMA

Dolly Parton is too good for us, that’s all there is to it.

The country legend has recently been at the center of a legislative effort to erect a statue in her honor at the Tennessee State capitol. But considering the circumstances, she’s now respectfully asking lawmakers to stop.

Back in early January, state representative John Mark Windle introduced a bill that would use donations and grants to build a permanent likeness of Parton in Nashville, celebrating the Tennessee native and all she’s done for the state. The push was inspired by thousands of fans who signed and online petition and came after calls to remove other statues, which enshrined confederate military leaders. But despite the good intentions, the big-hearted icon will not allow herself to be the focus of fawning attention — especially when so many are suffering.

“I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds,” Parton wrote in a statement shared with the media and posted online. “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.

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

We’ll sure she will, too.