Despite her worldwide renown, Dolly Parton resisted award recognition several times in her prolific career.
Namely, the singer turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom – widely considered the government's highest civilian honor – multiple times.
The "Queen of Country" avoided politics by design. But her death on Aug. 25 at the age of 80 created a rare political common ground
for grieving the loss of an American icon.President Donald Trump, who ordered flags to be lowered in Parton's honor, wrote in a social media post: "There has never been anyone like her, and never will."
In a 2020 interview with USA TODAY, Parton opened up about why she didn't "like to get involved with politics."
"First of all, I have as many Republican fans as I do Democrats,"
she said. "I don't want to offend anybody, I have a right to myself."
Dolly Parton declined Presidential Medal of Freedom multiple times
Parton turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice, she revealed in 2021.
She told the "TODAY" show that she was first offered the award under Trump's first administration.
"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 said at the time.
Under former President Joe Biden's administration, Parton was offered it again.
"Now I feel like if I take it, I'll be doing politics, so I'm not sure," she said in 2021.
Dolly Parton also turned down a statue at the Tennessee State Capitol
Also in 2021, Parton averted recognition tied to politics in her home state.
After Tennessee state legislators introduced a bill in January 2021 to enshrine Parton with a statue on the grounds of the State Capitol, the singer asked lawmakers to remove it from consideration.
At the time, Parton issued a statement to The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, which in part said she didn'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," she said.
In music, Dolly Parton also shied away from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination
Outside of politics, Parton also shied away from the spotlight when it came to her nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
She initially asked to be removed from consideration for a spot in the hall, saying in a March 2022 social media statement, "I don't feel that I have earned the right."
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame declined to pull her name from the running and ultimately voted to induct her. Parton ultimately thanked the group for the honor.
“I feel honored that all the people that voted for me did. And I appreciate the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame people for staying there with me,” Parton told Billboard in 2022. “I never meant to cause trouble or stir up any controversy.”
Contributing: Matthew Leimkuehler, Yue Stella Yu, Edward Segarra
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A humble Dolly Parton shied away from major honors
