Country music icon Dolly Parton, 78, is expanding her Imagination Library program, which provides free books to children under the age of 5, to cover all 21 states. The initiative, inspired by Parton’s own upbringing, has now distributed over 240 million books across five countries since its inception in 1995.
Parton made stops in Missouri and Kentucky on Tuesday to promote the program’s statewide expansion in both locations. During an event at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, Missouri, she shared the personal story behind the initiative, recounting her father’s struggles with illiteracy.
“In the mountains, a lot of people never had a chance to go to school because they had to work on the farms,” Parton explained. “They had to do whatever it took to keep the rest of the family going.” She described her father, Robert Lee Parton, who died in 2000, as “one of the smartest people I’ve ever known,” despite his inability to read.
The Imagination Library began in a single Tennessee county and has since grown to distribute over 3 million books monthly across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. In Missouri, the program is fully state-funded, with an annual cost of $11 million. Most other participating states use a cost-sharing model.
In Kentucky, where Parton also appeared Tuesday, Governor Andy Beshear announced that the program now reaches children in all 120 counties. First Lady Britainy Beshear reported that more than 120,000 Kentucky children – nearly half of all preschoolers in the state – are currently enrolled.
“It’s really a great way to teach children when they’re very young to learn to love books and to learn to read,” Parton said during the Lexington, Kentucky event. She emphasized her goal of expanding the program to every state in the U.S., noting that while there is a presence in all states, 21 now have legislation ensuring all children under 5 can enroll.
Parton, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, sees the Imagination Library as a tribute to her father. “That was kind of my way to honor my dad, because the Bible says to honor your father and mother,” she explained. “And I don’t think that just means, ‘just obey.’ I think it means to bring honor to their name and to them.”
The country star, who is also an author, includes her 1996 children’s book “Coat of Many Colors” in the program. She shared the story behind the book and her famous song of the same name, describing how it helped her overcome childhood bullying and has since touched many lives.
Reflecting on her legacy, Parton expressed her hope to be remembered as “a good ole girl” who worked hard to make people happy and improve the world. “Of course I want to be known as a songwriter and a singer, but I honestly can say that the Imagination Library has meant as much, if not more, to me than nearly anything that I’ve ever done,” she concluded.
As the Imagination Library continues to grow, it stands as a testament to Parton’s commitment to childhood literacy and her enduring impact beyond the world of music.
Associated Press