Country singer Dolly Parton asked Tennessee legislators to nix a bill that sought to commission a statue of her at the state capitol, citing greater current needs that require the assembly's attention.
"I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds," Parton said. "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 went on to say that putting her "on a pedestal" is 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 said.
The bill was introduced by state Rep. John Mark Windle and passed by a committee on February 9. The measure was a response to a public petition that sought to replace Confederate statues across Tennessee with statues of the singer.
