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Nashville Celebrates Dolly Parton on 9/25
Confirmed
In Short: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill recognizing September 25 as Dolly Parton Day, while Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas declared the day to celebrate Parton's contributions to literacy and community engagement.
In Nashville, where Parton lived since she was 18, the city is marking the day with pink lighting, commemorative posters, and free stickers, buttons, and bookmarks.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell praised Parton's enduring impact, noting her contributions to music, charity, and setting a standard for community care.
In celebration of Dolly Day, the bar Friends in Low Places is donating proceeds from every beer, plate, and round to support childhood literacy through Dolly’s Imagination Library.
Southwest Airlines is hosting a Parton-themed karaoke session for passengers and staff, while Kuhn Rikon USA is donating 100% of sales from its colorful paring knife to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
The city of Nashville has officially proclaimed September 25 as Dolly Parton Day, encouraging supporters to contribute directly to their local Imagination Library chapter or help launch a new one.
In New Orleans, a marching group called Krewe of Dolly will lead a parade through the French Quarter to honor Parton.
San Francisco is hosting a public gathering called 'Dolly Day' in the city center, featuring loud singing, festive outfits, and acts of kindness in her memory.
Parton's Imagination Library, founded in 1995, provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, regardless of family income.
Parton's influence on Nashville will be felt for generations, through her music, her charitable work, and the standard she set for others.
What this adds
Dolly Parton died in Nashville last month at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer.
Improving childhood literacy was one of Parton's central causes, achieved through her Imagination Library book-donation initiative.
Parton had expressed hope that her music would leave a lasting legacy, and that she herself would be remembered as someone who worked to make the world better.
Background
Dolly Parton's younger sister, Freida Parton, has denied reports of a family feud over the country legend's estate.
Bryan Seaver, who announced Dolly Parton's death on August 25, has been fired from his role as head of security for her properties, according to reports.
What's confirmed
- In New Orleans, La., a marching group called Krewe of Dolly will lead a parade through the city’s French Quarter to honour Parton.
What's still developing
- People across the world are dedicating Friday to honouring the late country icon as the day falls on Sept. 25 or 9/25, which is a nod to Parton’s hit song 9 to 5.
- Parton died in Nashville, Tenn., last month at the age of 80 after a “brief battle with cancer,” according to her representatives.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom officially signed state bill SB 931 on Sunday, which recognizes Sept. 25 or 9/25 as a day to celebrate Parton.
- “Dolly Parton sparkled on every stage she ever stood on, but her brightest sparkle was the literacy legacy she built through the Imagination Library,” state Sen. Shannon Grove, who co-authored the bill, said in a statement.
- “Dolly Parton is internationally recognized for her contributions to music and culture, as well as her lifelong commitment to kindness, generosity, literacy, and community. September 25, recognized as 9/25, celebrates her iconic 9 to 5 legacy and honours her enduring impact as a champion of literacy and community engagement,” Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas wrote.
- “My First Bookshelf at Calgary Public Library provides this program locally, in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Since its launch, the My First Bookshelf program has delivered more than 200,000 books to young readers in Calgary, impacting the lives of close to ten thousand local children and their families — and touching countless more through shared stories and learning experiences,” the Calgary Public Library foundation said.
- “In celebration of Dolly Parton’s indelible legacy, all funds raised today in support of My First Bookshelf will be put toward removing the program’s waitlist, which will help more than 500 local children start receiving books every month and build a lifelong love of reading. We invite you to come together as a community to get these kids into My First Bookshelf,” the organization added.
- The bar also encouraged Parton fans to bring in any children’s books as they are collecting donations all day long.
- “On 9/25, let’s celebrate Dolly the way she lived,” city council president Jamie Dunphy said.
- Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines announced that it would hold a Parton-inspired karaoke Friday for travellers and employees.
- In Canada, the city of Calgary has declared 9/25 as Dolly Parton Day to honour the Jolene singer, who made it her mission to improve literacy through her Imagination Library book giveaway program.
- To celebrate, Nashville-based kitchenware company Kuhn Rikon USA is getting in on the fun with a colorful little kitchen tool that does more than slice and dice.
Sources
- Global Newslink
- OnMilwaukeelink
- Rozana Spokesmanlink
- Taste of Countrylink
- Wilson County Sourcelink
- eonline.comlink
- Livenowfoxlink
- WarpBeat — background on Dolly Parton's Sister Denies Family Feud Over Estate link
- WarpBeat — background on Dolly Parton's Nephew Fired From Security Role Amid Estate Dispute link
- TODAY — video link