08/25/2026
Dolly Parton (1946โ2026) ๐๏ธ
Tennessee lost one of its brightest lights today. But Dolly Parton's impact will keep turning pages for generations to come.
Through her Imagination Library, Dolly mailed free books to children across Tennessee and beyond every single month from birth until kindergarten- no cost, no barriers, just the gift of reading. What started in her home county of Sevier grew into a program that reached all 95 Tennessee counties, delivering over 10 million books to Tennessee children alone, and more than 270 million worldwide.
She always said she wanted to be "the Book Lady," and she became so much more- proof that one person's belief in a child's future can ripple across an entire state and country.
Rest easy, Dolly. Thank you for the songs, the stories, and for making sure every child had a book of their own. ๐๐