Dolly Parton has officially asked the Tennessee legislature to not move forward with the considered statue in her honor on the Capitol grounds.
Parton released a statement via her social media where she essentially said "thanks, but no thanks."
❤️ https://t.co/qD9yGODWtT— Dolly Parton (@Dolly Parton)1613664029.0
"I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds," she began.
"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."
@DollyParton Servitude is a lost desire! How will we ever be effective as a church if our concerns are only for sel… https://t.co/4tSXIOIz5m— RESISTANCE NETWORK (@RESISTANCE NETWORK)1613666107.0
@DollyParton Every confederate monument should be dynamited and then replaced with Dolly statues I've been saying this for years.— Kevin Carter (@Kevin Carter)1613664137.0
@DollyParton Dolly Parton is a great American. What an amazing human being giving of herself, not for recognition, but to help others.— rebecca mccoy (@rebecca mccoy)1613692927.0
"Given all that is going on in the world, I don't think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time," Parton continued, presumably referring to the ongoing pandemic and the current environmental crisis in Texas.
"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,"
@DollyParton I thought I loved you to the max yesterday... then u went and did this xxx— Hoda Kotb (@Hoda Kotb)1613673538.0
@DollyParton You're such a shining light in this world who many people could learn how to be a better person from.… https://t.co/KdZ02qR9l7— BOXBOYRICHCHI (@BOXBOYRICHCHI)1613678873.0
@DollyParton Her heart knows no bounds and her wisdom is just as grand! Dolly is an extremely intelligent person an… https://t.co/0F6TvEnJqN— tom reynolds (@tom reynolds)1613689685.0
@DollyParton I didn’t think I could love you more ~ But I do ♥️ https://t.co/A8N9ezOCT9— Ann is NOT a documented Russian troll (@Ann is NOT a documented Russian troll)1613684759.0
Tennessee's own Dolly Parton has donated money throughout her career toward important causes. Just last year, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University's ongoing research against the ongoing pandemic, and helped fund one of the two major vaccines in distribution now.
Parton has also retained unwavering support for anti-racism and the LGBTQ+ community, and has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars motivating children in her native Tennessee to stay in school, graduate with their diploma, and go to college.
@DollyParton @itsNICKSNIDER Dolly, too many ppl love you around the world. I first saw you with Kenny Rogers as a c… https://t.co/AdHdOVCYEu— StudioCosentino (@StudioCosentino)1613685472.0
@DollyParton Your statement is so touching and sweet! Since I have a chosen family in TN ( I am from Austria) I got… https://t.co/X9cNRgAhoD— Andrea Nitsche (@Andrea Nitsche)1613686971.0
@DollyParton I truly hope you will reconsider. You are such a beacon of resilience, humility, and compassion, and w… https://t.co/3Xv6eYmmnN— Chris Clark (@Chris Clark)1613683658.0
@DollyParton What a kind and decent human being. This is why she and her humble ways deserve to be recognized when… https://t.co/i11f9e4kUq— Mandy (@Mandy)1613688516.0
@DollyParton Hey musicians, performers, artists, politicians, and human beings...this is how you do it. ❤️🤍💙— freekbass (@freekbass)1613664972.0
"I'm just happy that anything I do can help somebody else," Parton said to Today, about the role she played in the vaccine's development.
"When I donated the money to the [virus] fund I just wanted it to do good and evidently, it is! Let's just hope we can find a cure real soon."
Parton, a woman who does good for the sake of doing good, is a true idol.