26/08/2026
Yesterday, Dolly Parton, the beloved global megastar and humanitarian icon, passed away at 80 years old. Over a seven-decade career, the country legend touched millions not only with her music but through her warmth, kindness and generosity, becoming a huge inspiration to us all.
Dolly devoted herself to inspiring a love of reading in children, ensuring millions of books were made available to young people worldwide through her gifting program, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. As of today, over 300,000,000 books have been gifted through the program - a number that is continually growing and helping to foster a lifelong love of reading in young people across the globe.
With 2026 being The National Year of Reading, Dolly's work feels more important than ever. Her belief in the importance of books is transformative, and her work will continue to influence how we prioritise reading and ensure everyone has access to stories that spark imagination.
If you'd like to help celebrate Dolly's life, donations can be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library as per her family's request.
