Like everyone in the world, it seems, I was very sad recently to hear that Dolly Parton had died.

I’ve talked many times about how much I admire Dolly Parton—not so much for her music, but because she seemed to be such a truly good person.

I’ve also talked about how I’m always looking for examples of people knowing the right thing to say. Often, it’s so hard to find the words to express ourselves; it makes me so happy when someone finds just the right words.

Because I was reading many articles about Dolly Parton, and tributes to her, I was reminded of an incident that happened about five years ago.

In January 2021, in Tennessee a bill was introduced proposing that a statue of Dolly Parton would be placed on the State Capitol grounds.

In February, on social media, Dolly Parton posted her response:

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.

Her response is gracious, humble, appropriate to the moment, in her own distinct voice, and a tribute to her enduring love for her home state.

Now she is gone, of course, and recently the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted to rename the Nashville International Airport for Dolly Parton.

It’s the first of many such tributes, I expect.

Dolly Parton did so much for the people of Tennessee and also for the United States. Thinking about her, I get my America feeling. Her example reminds me to ask myself: What am I doing in my own life to live up to the great ideas of my country?

Dolly Parton! I admire her so much.

If you’d like to read her statement yourself, I’ll include a link to her her post here. It shows her words and her signature, illustrated by her personal symbol of the butterfly.