COLUMBUS, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—In recognition of her global influence and extraordinary contributions to childhood literacy, Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel have officially proclaimed September 25, 2026, as Dolly Parton Day across the state of Ohio.
The official proclamation honors Parton’s journey from her humble beginnings in East Tennessee to her status as a worldwide icon whose music and philanthropy embody kindness, generosity, and community spirit.
At the center of the state’s tribute is Parton’s signature philanthropic initiative, the Imagination Library. Founded in 1995 to honor her father—who never learned to read—the program was created to foster a love of books among preschool children in her home county. Today, the global program mails more than 3 million free books every month to children from birth to age five.
Ohio has embraced Parton’s mission on a massive scale. Since the establishment of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio in 2019, the program has made every child in the state eligible to receive a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book in the mail each month.