Country music icon, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton may have left us on Aug. 25, but her spirit lives on. In fact, the U.S. is celebrating Dolly Parton Day on Sept. 25.
Parton, famous for writing hits like “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene” died at age 80 on Aug. 25. She was also known for her dedication to child literacy with the Imagination Library, providing children around the world with books.
Previously, Aug. 5 had been declared Dolly Parton Day in Nashville, Tenn., located in Parton’s home state, back in 2019. This year, “a growing number of state and local leaders are establishing Sept. 25 as an annual Dolly Parton Day, from California to the borough of Manhattan in New York City,” according to WWL.
“The proclamations highlight Parton’s successful career and stress her lifelong commitment to promoting literacy,” the station added.
USA Today noted that Sept. 25 was chosen to honor Parton’s song “9 to 5” featured in the movie of the same name. In Nashville, where Parton moved from her “Tennessee Mountain Home” at age 18, celebrations will include wearing pink, spreading kindness, and singing along to “9 to 5” as well as enjoying Dolly-inspired specials, pink lights, and Dolly posters across the city.
“Free buttons, stickers, and bookmarks will be available while supplies last at Visitor Information Centers at Bridgestone Arena and Fifth + Broadway, with fireworks downtown at 9:25 p.m.,” said the city. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood also pledged to donate all 9/25 proceeds from their Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk to the Nashville Public Library and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library as part of Dolly Day.
In Detroit, Audacy station WYCD is hosting a Give Like Dolly event with Macomb Township Parks and Recreation that includes music, crafts and real ponies starting at 5 p.m. ET.
Here’s a list of just some of the other Dolly celebrations going on in cities across the U.S.:
Dolly fans can celebrate Dolly Day from anywhere. Parton’s charitable organization The Dollywood Foundation has declared that Sept. 25 is “Give Like Dolly Day” and it encourages Parton’s fans to support local Imagination Library programs, help bring an Imagination Library to their area if there isn’t one and share how they choose to give like Dolly with the #GiveLikeDolly hashtag on social media.
