Dolly Parton, the legendary country music icon, has dedicated the last thirty years to promoting literacy through her Imagination Library book donation program. Growing up in poverty without the opportunity for education, inspired by her father’s story of being unable to read, Parton started the initiative in 1995 in Tennessee with the goal of providing books to young children. Now, the program spans over 21 states, including Missouri and Kentucky, where children under five years old can receive monthly book deliveries at home.
Parton, the fourth of twelve children from an impoverished Appalachian family, shared the story of her father, Robert Lee Parton, during her visits to promote the program in Missouri and Kentucky. She expressed that many individuals in mountainous regions were unable to attend school due to farm work responsibilities. Despite her father’s intelligence, his inability to read caused him embarrassment, motivating Dolly to help other children access books and education through the program.
The Imagination Library has grown exponentially, with over 3 million books distributed monthly and a total of 240 million books sent to children worldwide since its inception. While Missouri covers the program’s entire cost, other states contribute through a cost-sharing arrangement. Dolly Parton expressed pride in being known as the “book lady” by children, a title that pleased her father more than her fame, as he felt he had also made a significant impact.
Dolly Parton, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and an accomplished author, aims to expand the program to every state, honoring her father’s legacy and fulfilling the biblical principle of honoring parents. Sharing her children’s book “Coat of Many Colors” as part of the program, Parton recounted the personal story behind the song of the same name. The song reflects her childhood experience of being teased for wearing a coat made of mismatched fabric but finding solace and healing through music.
Parton’s song “Coat of Many Colors” has resonated with many individuals, including herself, as a source of comfort and empowerment. Her dedication to promoting education and literacy through storytelling and music has impacted countless lives, fulfilling her mission to honor her father and uplift others through the power of words and music.
