Dolly Parton Declines Proposed Tennessee State Capitol Statue

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Dolly Parton. Photo: Rob Hoffman

Dolly Parton has declined a bill proposed by the Tennessee legislature to erect a statue of the country music icon on the Capitol grounds.

The bill was filed by Rep. John Windle, D-Livingston on Jan. 13 and would have required the State Capitol Commission to erect the statue facing the Ryman Auditorium.

In a statement provided to MusicRow by Parton’s publicist, the Country Music Hall of Fame member thanked Tennessee legislature for the consideration but declined because she doesn’t want to be put on a pedestal right now “given all that is going on in the world.”

Read Parton’s full statement below:

I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds. 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. 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.

LB Cantrell
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