3 Times Dolly Parton Proved Her Humility by Turning Down Awards and Honors
After receiving a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination, Dolly Parton decided she didn’t yet deserve it. This recent occurrence is just another time Parton proved how down-to-earth she is as a celebrity. On multiple occasions, Parton’s words and behaviors have demonstrated her humility. Here are three times Parton has shown her ego is in check despite her massive level of fame.
Dolly Parton turned down her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination
On Feb. 2, 2022, Parton became a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee.
“With her trailblazing songwriting career, distinctive voice, campy glamour, business savvy and humanitarian work, Dolly Parton is a beloved icon who transcends the genre she changed forever,” the organization wrote of Parton.
Just over a month after this, however, Parton decided she would politely decline the nomination. While honored by the nomination, she didn’t believe she should be inducted. Though her music goes beyond just country, she is not a rock ‘n’ roll artist.
“I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out,” she wrote in a statement.
She shared that the nomination inspired her to eventually make a rock ‘n’ roll album. She hopes that with it, she mighti someday earn her place in the organization.
“I do hope the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again — if I’m ever worthy,” she wrote. “This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock ‘n’ roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do!”
She didn’t let the state of Tennessee put up a statue in her honor
In 2021, Tennessee state legislators considered replacing the statue of a Confederate general with one of Parton. While lawmakers across party lines agreed on the proposed bill, Parton didn’t think it was a good idea.
“Given all that is going on in the world, I don’t think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time,” she wrote in a statement, per The New York Times.
As with her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination, Parton expressed her gratitude for the honor. She also left the door open for a future statue.
“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.”
Dolly Parton has turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice
Parton’s illustrious career and philanthropic efforts led to her nearly receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice. On both occasions, she turned down the honor.
“I couldn’t accept it because my husband was ill and then they asked me again about it and I wouldn’t travel because of the COVID,” she told Today. “Now I feel like if I take it, I’ll be doing politics, so I’m not sure.”
Though she had to turn down the honor because of outside forces, she also said she wasn’t sure whether she deserved it in the first place.
“I don’t work for those awards,” she explained. “It’d be nice but I’m not sure that I even deserve it. But it’s a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it.”
