It's officially Dolly Parton Day, with parades, pink lights and book
drives
[September 25, 2026]
By KIMBERLEE KRUESI
Pour yourself a cup of ambition. It’s Dolly Parton Day.
Across the world, communities are dedicating Friday to honoring the
beloved country singer. The day is falling on Sept. 25, a wink at
Parton’s hit song “9 to 5.”
Parton, who died of cancer last month at age 80, built an impressive
legacy over the decades as a singer-songwriter, actor, philanthropist
and entrepreneur — leaving big and small ways to honor the icon.
So whether it’s dusting off your rhinestones, donating a book or
throwing back a pink-themed cocktail, here’s how you can celebrate Dolly
Parton Day.
Join a celebration
In the U.S., a growing number of state and local leaders are
establishing Sept. 25 as an annual Dolly Parton Day from California to
the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The proclamations highlight
Parton’s successful career and stress her lifelong commitment to
promoting literacy.
In Nashville — where Parton had lived since she was 18 — the city will
honor the singer with pink lights and posters and give away stickers,
buttons and bookmarks. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines announced that it
would hold a Parton-inspired karaoke Friday for travelers and employees.
Tennessee state and local officials are currently in the process of
renaming the airport after Parton.
“Dolly Parton’s impact on Nashville will be felt for generations,
through the music she has given us, the people she has helped and the
example she continues to set,” said Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell in
a statement. “She has shown us that caring for a community means showing
up for one another.”
Over in New Orleans, the marching group Krewe of Dolly will lead a
parade through the city’s French Quarter to honor Parton.
And in San Francisco, organizers are planning a public event in the
heart of the city, called “Dolly Day,” designed to be a celebration of
life that will include “singing loud, dressing up, and being a little
kinder than usual in her honor.”
Donate a book to Imagination Library
For those chained to their actual 9 to 5 job on Friday, sneaking away
for an event may be challenging. Instead, you can channel Parton’s
giving spirit.
Parton made it her mission to improve literacy through her Imagination
Library book giveaway program. The program has quickly expanded,
resulting in more than a million books sent out each month to children
in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia.
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 The Imagination Library is
encouraging the public to give directly to their local Imagination
Library Partner on Dolly Parton Day, or help establish a new program
in their community.
Don’t know where to start? The Dollywood Foundation is directing
people to ImaginationLibrary.com, where a ZIP code search can find
nearby programs.
“For Dolly, giving was always personal and from her heart,” said
Jeff Conyers, president of The Dollywood Foundation, in a statement.
“She believed deeply in helping people, especially children, and she
always felt if you are in a position to help, you should help.”
Get inspired by Parton's style and songs
The Queen of Country was known for her over-the-top style, proudly
wearing sequins with big hair and plenty of fringe in her signature
color pink.
Parton especially adored butterflies, singing that “love is like a
butterfly, as soft and gentle as a sigh.”
Dig into your closet and throw on something extra flashy, shiny or
sparkly. Feeling adventurous? Some tattoo artists are offering
Dolly-inspired tattoos on Friday, but a butterfly clip will also
work.
Of course, there's no easier way to celebrate Parton than by playing
one of her many, many albums throughout the day.
Known for her hits “9 to 5,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You,”
Parton's catalog runs deep, and there's room to discover new
favorites.
It was Parton’s wish that her songs would have a lasting impact, and
that in turn, she would be remembered for trying to make the world a
better place.
“I hope that a lot of my songs may last that long. And I hope I’ll
be remembered as somebody that tried to do some good in the world
and left, you know, a few good things,” she told The Associated
Press in 2024.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
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