Cities and states across the country are declaring 25 September Dolly Parton Day, month after the Queen of Country died at age 80. The date, 9/25, is a tribute to Parton’s popular single, 9 to 5. California and Ohio have officially declared the date Dolly Parton Day, while communities nationwide are planning tributes from parades and pink lights to karaoke and live music performances.
California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, signed legislation last week establishing 25 September as Dolly Parton Day in the state every year. The bill was sponsored by state senators Shannon Grove and John Laird. With this bill, we are not just establishing a day to celebrate Dolly Parton, we are creating an annual reminder to us, every year, to live the way she did – joyfully, graciously and with a whole lot of heart.” The Los Angeles county library will be hosting a Dolly Parton Day event at several locations: Dolly Day: Smarty Pants Storytime, which will include songs, rhymes and movement along with teaching school-readiness skills.
Parton was a big advocate for encouraging young people to read, and her juvenile literacy charity, the Imagination Library, provided millions of books for children around the world. In Ohio, the governor, Mike DeWine, and the lieutenant governor, Jim Tressel, signed a proclamation earlier this month recognizing Dolly Parton Day. Unlike California’s law, Ohio’s proclamation applies only to 2026.
New York and Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering similar measures. New York’s bill remained in a senate committee, while Pennsylvania’s legislation had been referred to a house committee. Some of the largest celebrations are taking place in Nashville, where Parton had lived since she was 18.
The city is honoring the singer with pink lights and posters while handing out stickers, buttons and bookmarks. The Nashville celebration began with the unveiling of a new Dolly-themed license plate, with $25 from each plate sold going to support local Imagination Libraries. A downtown fireworks tribute is planned for 9.25pm.
Tennessee state and local officials are currently working to rename the airport after Parton. Elsewhere, New Orleans will host a tribute led by the marching group Krewe of Dolly. The memorial parade will commence at 5pm that will pass through the French Quarter and end at the Jazz Museum.
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