Over the retiring couple years , Tennesseans have been try on to get a statue hit from their Capitol Building : a bust of Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan atomic number 27 - father Nathan Bedford Forrest . It ’s a drawn-out process thatinvolvesmultiple hearings and approval from more than one mission , which means legislators have had plenty of time to consider who they might need to honor in Forrest ’s place .
In late 2019 , Republican representative Jeremy FaisonsuggestedDolly Partonas a suitable replacement . Not only was the country euphony adept yield and raised in the Volunteer State , but she stilllivesthere today . Parton has also donated more than 100 million books to children through herImagination Libraryorganization , helped fund COVID-19 vaccinum enquiry , and partaken in othercharitable causesthat make her a desirable candidate for a statue .
Forrest ’s bout has yet to move , but Tennesseans could be sustain a stone alikeness of Parton elsewhere on Capitol Hill . Last month , Democratic congressman John Mark Windle introduce a pecker [ PDF ] scream for a Parton statue to be erect on Capitol grounds facing the Ryman Auditorium — thebirthplaceof theGrand Ole Opry , of which Parton has been amemberfor more than half a century .
And on February 9 , the House Committee for Naming and Designating unanimously voted topassthat account .
“ Dolly Parton is a genial , comely , caring , compassionate soul , ” Windle , committeechair , toldWKRN . “ Her impact has been much greater than a political leader or a stateswoman or statesman , and we ought to honor her while we still have her . ”
While the committee ’s consentient , two-party decisiveness bodes well for the bill ’s future , Tennessee ’s House and Senate will alsoneedto vote on the matter , as will the local regime .
[ h / tWKRN ]
