Dolly Parton: Don’t put me on pedestal
NASHVILLE — Dolly Parton is asking Tennessee lawmakers to withdraw a bill that would erect a statue of her on the Capitol grounds in Nashville.
“Given all that is going on in the world, I don’t think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time,” Parton said in a statement issued Thursday.
Democratic Rep. John Mark Windle introduced the bill last month that aims to honor Parton “for all that she has contributed to this state.”
Aside from her status as a music icon, Parton is a lifelong philanthropist. She founded the Imagination Library, which mails books to children under the age of 5 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.
In advocating for the statue, Windle said, “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? [She’s] a passionate person who loves everyone, and everyone loves her.”
In her Thursday statement, Parton thanked the legislature for their consideration of the bill and said she was honored and humbled by their intentions.
Although she asked lawmakers to withdraw the bill for now, Parton said “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.”
Colin Jost opens up about reasons behind his marriage reveal
NEW YORK — After Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson tied the knot in an intimate ceremony last fall, the couple found a heartfelt way to tell the world they were “Jost married.”
Rather than break the news through their representatives or giving it to one media outlet, the news was announced on social media by the food charity Meals on Wheels America, giving it worldwide attention during the pandemic.
“Scarlett wanted to figure out a way of doing something that had another kind of meaning or could potentially help in some way,” Jost recently told The Associated Press while promoting his latest film, “Tom and Jerry.”
The co-anchor of the “Weekend Update” segment at “Saturday Night Live” says the couple wanted to make a difference with their happy news.
“We talked about places that we would love to help, and Meals on Wheels was at the top of our list, just getting very basic food to people that need it seems like the most basic way to help,” he said.
Donations pour in to rebuild Newman’s camp for sick kids
Less than a week after a fire tore through Hole in the Wall Gang camp for seriously ill children in Connecticut, almost $3 million has been raised to help rebuild the facility that was founded by the late actor Paul Newman.
That includes pledges of $1 million from the Newman’s Own Foundation and a promise by Travelers and the Travelers Championship PGA golf tournament to match up to $1 million in other donations.
Jimmy Canton, the camp’s chief executive officer said Friday just more than $900,000 has come in from other sources, including charitable foundations, individuals including celebrities such as golfer Bubba Watson, and even the families of campers.
“It’s just been so inspiring,” Canton said.
Carly Demartino, 16, of Granby has been attending camp since 2016 after she was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. Being able to do things such as scale the camp’s climbing tower and zip line to the bottom gave her a feeling of accomplishment and normalcy, she said.
“Everyone who has been to camp has had their bump in the road ... so now that Hole in the Wall has hit its bump in the road, we want to pay it back,” she said.