First Minister John Swinney has stated he is "deeply saddened" by the death of country music star Dolly Parton. Following the announcement of her passing by her family on Tuesday evening, Mr Swinney shared condolences on X, highlighting her charity work distributing books to children, including in Scotland.
In April, the Scottish Government revealed plans to partner with The Dollywood Foundation, Parton's non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing literacy and education among young people. Her charity currently operates in several regions across Scotland, such as Dundee, Fife, Renfrewshire, and Helensburgh.
On X, Mr Swinney said: “Deeply saddened by the news of Dolly Parton’s death. In Scotland, her Imagination Library inspired a love of reading and provided thousands of free books for children. Her warmth, generosity and her music were truly one of a kind. My thoughts are with her family and friends.”
Parton founded The Imagination Library in 1995 to distribute books to children in Sevier County, Tennessee, where she grew up. The programme, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025, also launched in Canada in 2006, Australia in 2013, and the Republic of Ireland in 2019.