Dolly Parton has long been dedicated to promoting literacy, inspired by her father’s struggles with education. The country music icon, now 78, has spent over three decades enhancing literacy through her Imagination Library book giveaway program. Recently, this initiative has expanded across Missouri and Kentucky, enabling families in 21 states to enroll children under five and receive monthly book deliveries.
To mark this achievement, Parton visited both states to share her father’s story and promote the program. “In the mountains, a lot of people never had a chance to go to school because they had to work on the farms,” she stated at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. Parton, the fourth of twelve children from a financially challenged background, revealed that her father, Robert Lee Parton, was one of the smartest people she knew, despite feeling ashamed of his inability to read.
Initially launched in a single Tennessee county in 1995, the program has grown exponentially, now sending out over 3 million books each month. To date, more than 240 million books have reached children across the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.
The funding for Missouri’s program reached $11 million in the latest fiscal year, with other participating states contributing through a cost-sharing model.
Parton affectionately reflects on her journey, mentioning that children affectionately dubbed her the “book lady.” “Daddy was more proud of that than he was that I was a star,” she said. With a vision to extend the program to every state, Parton expressed gratitude that her father lived to witness its success.
“This was my way to honor my dad,” she emphasized, highlighting a biblical teaching about honoring one’s parents.
In addition to her philanthropic efforts, Parton is an accomplished author, known for her children’s book “Coat of Many Colors,” which is part of the giveaway program. As she prepared to perform a song that tells the story behind this book, she recounted how her mother crafted the coat from mismatched fabric due to their financial challenges. Despite being ridiculed by classmates, Parton learned to embrace her heritage through her music, ultimately finding healing through her songwriting.
“The fact that that little song has just meant so much not only to me but to so many other people for so many different reasons, makes it my favorite song,” she shared, reflecting on the profound impact of her work.
