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And Finally Artist News
Dolly Parton says plans to erect a statue of her not “appropriate at this time”
By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 19 February 2021
Moves have been made to halt plans to erect a statue of Dolly Parton on the grounds of Nashville’s State Capitol government building. Although only by Dolly Parton herself, who thinks that now might not be the best time.
“Given all that is going on in the world, I don’t think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time”, says Parton in a statement.
A bill was proposed by a Democrat member of the Tennessee House Of Representatives, John Windle, last month, aiming to honour Parton for her contributions to music and philanthropy – the latter recognising her work in child literacy, but also the million dollar donation she made to research that contributed to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Introducing the bill, Windle said: “At this point in history, is there a better example, not just in America but in the world, of a leader that is [a] kind, decent, passionate human being? She’s a passionate person who loves everyone, and everyone loves her”.
Showing off those qualities, Parton has now urged Tennessee politicians to reject the bill and spend taxpayers’ money on something else instead.
“I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on Capitol grounds”, she writes. “I am honoured and humbled by their intention but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill from any and all consideration”.
Adding that she does not think such a move would be “appropriate” right now, she goes on: “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”, she concludes.
TL;DR – Dolly Parton would like a statue, but let’s not be silly.
