For three decades, Dolly Parton turned a personal family story into one of the world’s most far-reaching children’s literacy initiatives.
Founded in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has provided free, high-quality books to enrolled children from birth to age 5 in participating communities. By June 2026, the program had gifted more than 325 million books across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.
The idea was deeply personal. Parton was inspired by her father, Robert Lee Parton, who never learned to read or write. She wanted to help children develop a love of books and reading early in life.
Each month, participating children receive a new book mailed directly to them, free of charge.
Parton died on August 25, 2026, at age 80, but the literacy program she created continues to reach millions of children. Her official family announcement encouraged supporters to honor her memory by donating to the Imagination Library.
Her legacy was never limited to music. Through books, she helped generations of children discover the joy of reading.
Source: Black Girls Who Read
