Dolly Parton has asked Tennessee legislators not to install a statue in her honor on Capitol Grounds. The country icon said that, although she was "honored and humbled" by the gesture, she hoped the state would remove the proposed bill.
"I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds," she wrote in a statement to Twitter Thursday. "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."
Parton explained that, with everything "going on in the world," she felt that being put "on a pedestal" was not 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," she concluded.
In June, an online petition emerged suggesting that the statues honoring Confederate officers be replaced by one of Parton.
"Tennessee is littered with statues memorializing confederate officers. History should not be forgotten, but we need not glamorize those who do not deserve our praise. Instead, let us honor a true Tennessee hero, Dolly Parton," it read.
The petition cited Parton's philanthropy as reasons for the statue to be erected. "Let's replace the statues of men who sought to tear this country apart with a monument to the woman who has worked her entire life to bring us closer together," it added.
State Rep. John Windle (D-Livingston) proposed the installation of the statue on Capitol Hill to the state and a House committee passed the bill on Feb. 9, Fox News noted.