Campaign under way for Dolly Parton statue at state capitol
A bill was introduced to honour Ms Parton ‘for all that she has contributed’ to the state of Tennessee, according to reports.
A statue of country music icon Dolly Parton could be added to the Capitol grounds in Nashville, Tennessee, if one state politician gets his way.
Democratic Representative John Mark Windle introduced a bill on Tuesday designed to honour Ms Parton “for all that she has contributed to this state”, news outlets reported.
Aside from her status as a music icon, Ms Parton is a lifelong philanthropist. She founded the Imagination Library, which sends books to children under the age of five across the world to improve child literacy, and her million-dollar donation to Vanderbilt University helped develop the highly effective Moderna coronavirus vaccine. Her advocacy for racial justice was recently celebrated in a mural in Nashville.
No taxpayer money would be spent according to the bill, which would create a fund for private gifts, grants and donations to pay for the statue.
“At this point in history, is there a better example, not just in America but in the world, of a leader that is (a) kind, decent, passionate human being?” Mr Windle said on Wednesday.
“(She’s) a passionate person who loves everyone, and everyone loves her.”
