Dolly Parton ProfileLess than a month after her passing, the state of California, the city of Nashville, and other parts of the United States have declared that the 25th of September – aka 9/25 or 9 to 5 – will be the official Dolly Parton Day.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a state bill to recognise the date as Dolly Parton Day, celebrating her life, music, philanthropy, and legacy, Louder Sound reports.
Democratic Senator John Laird and Republican Senator Shannon Grove co-authored the bill.
In a joint statement, they said, “Dolly Parton sparkled on every stage she ever stood on, but her brightest sparkle was the literacy legacy she built through the Imagination Library.”
They continued, “The love Dolly gave so freely, rooted in her deep and openly shared faith, and the love the world returned to her, shows how deeply she was cherished by everyone... every Sept. 25th, our state will remember the legend who put millions of books in the hands of our youngest readers and inspired the world on how to respect and love one another.”
California’s decision comes just days after Dolly Parton Day was confirmed in Nashville.
A citywide celebration will be held in the home of country music and invites “residents, visitors, and businesses to participate in acts of kindness and philanthropy” that echo the country singer’s enduring legacy.
“Dolly has shown us what can happen when generosity is rooted in a genuine love for community,” said Hal Cato, CEO of Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, per News Channel 5 Nashville. “Her example reminds us that each of us has something to give, whether it is our time, our resources, our talents or simply our kindness.”
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood have gotten behind the campaign. On 25 September, they’ll donate all proceeds from their bar, Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk, to the Nashville Public Library and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Meanwhile, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell is expected to issue an official proclamation declaring 25 September “Dolly Parton Day.”
O’Connell explained, “Dolly Parton’s impact on Nashville will be felt for generations, through her music, her many acts of kindness, and the example she continues to set for us today. She has shown us all that caring for a community means showing up for one another.”
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that the Nashville International Airport would be renamed after Dolly Parton.
The country music icon passed away on Tuesday, 25 August, following a “brief battle” with cancer, her representatives confirmed. She was 80.
