Fans globally are celebrating Dolly Parton Day today, September 25, honouring the country music legend a month after her death from cancer at the age of 80. The date, a nod to her classic song “9 to 5,” commemorates Parton's extensive career as a singer-songwriter, actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
Across the US, cities and states, including California and Manhattan, have formally recognised September 25 as Dolly Parton Day. Nashville, where Parton moved at 18, is marking the occasion with pink lights, commemorative posters, and giveaways such as bookmarks, buttons, and stickers. Tennessee officials are also proceeding with plans to rename Nashville’s airport after her.
Celebrations extend beyond formal recognition, with Southwest Airlines holding Parton-themed karaoke sessions for passengers and employees. In New Orleans, the Krewe of Dolly marching group is leading a procession, while San Francisco is encouraging fans to sing, dress up, and be “a little kinder than usual in her honor.”
Fans unable to attend events are encouraged to support Parton’s charitable work, particularly her Imagination Library. This literacy initiative, which she founded to provide free books to young children, now distributes over a million books monthly across the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Australia. The Dollywood Foundation is encouraging donations to local Imagination Library programs or assistance in establishing new ones.