Dolly Parton Asks Tennessee Legislature to Remove a Bill to Erect a Statue in Her Honor

Dolly Parton asked Tennessee Legislature to remove the bill to erect a statue in her honor in her Instagram message.

Dolly Parton shared a message on her Instagram asking the Tennessee Legislature to remove a bill to erect a statue at Tennessee Capitol in her honor.

Parton's message comes after democrat Rep. John Mark Windle sponsored a bill to erect a statue of the singer facing the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.

A petition was made and gained over 16 000 signatures in support of a Dolly Parton statute. Fans hoped that her statue could replace the controversial figures that surround the Capitol.

Even republican Ted Cruz shared his support of a Parton statue on Twitter. He tweeted that her statue could replace the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue. It read:

"Replace statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest—former delegate to 1860 Democrat National Convention, vicious slave trader."

Many reasoned that Parton should get a statue as she had done much for the state, including much charity work, such as Imagination Libray and her musical achievements.

If the statue were approved, it would have been funded by "The Dolly Parton Fund." As stated on Windle's bill, the public would have had a say in the statue's design.

She shared that she will continue to do good work to make her state proud of her.

Unfortunately, Parton has requested that the bill be removed from Tennessee Legislature as she feels it is not an appropriate time for the country for her to be honored with a statute.

Her message on Instagram shared her feelings on the matter. She shared that she felt honored and humbled by the bill, but given the circumstances, she does not feel it is right. She wrote on Instagram:

"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 and said that she hoped in the future or after she has died, if people still felt she deserved it, that she will stand proudly at the Capitol.

She shared that she will continue to do good work to make her state proud of her. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Parton donated $1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center to aid in research.

Tennesseans have raised concerns about the controversial statues of political leaders. Taylor Swift condemned the statues on Instagram and urged for them to be replaced.

Many of the statues reflect the old mindset of the state and USA as a whole as it includes members of the Klu Klux Klan and slave owners and traders such as Edward Carmack and Nathan Bedford Forrest.