By admin 
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill requiring California governors to annually proclaim Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day, honoring the late country music star’s contributions to music, literacy and philanthropy.
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The bill, Senate Bill 931, authored by Sens. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, and John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, made the annual proclamation a requirement under state law. Sept. 25 — or 9-2-5 — was selected in honor of Parton’s song “9 to 5.”
Parton, known as the “Queen of Country,” was one of the most successful country music performers in history, selling more than 100 million records worldwide. During her six-decade career, she earned 25 No. 1 hits, the most by any female country artist.
Her song “I Will Always Love You” topped the charts in 1974 and 1982 before Whitney Houston later recorded a version that became a global hit.
Parton died Aug. 25 in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 80, leaving behind a legacy spanning music, film and philanthropy.
Her charitable work included the Imagination Library, which she created to support early literacy and encourage a love of reading. The program has distributed more than 300 million books to children worldwide, including in California.
California previously partnered with the Dollywood Foundation to expand the Imagination Library statewide. The program reached all 58 counties and made California the first state to offer a fully bilingual English-Spanish book option, according to the legislation.
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“Dolly Parton sparkled on every stage she ever stood on, but her brightest sparkle was the literacy legacy she built through the Imagination Library,” Grove said.
Grove also cited the bipartisan effort that expanded the Imagination Library in California and established the annual day of recognition.
Laird said Parton’s impact went beyond music.
“Through the Imagination Library, she put books into the hands of millions of children, and throughout her life she led with kindness, acceptance, and a belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” he said.
Laird also noted Parton’s connections to California’s Central Coast, where she performed and spent time over the years.
Parton also supported numerous humanitarian causes, including COVID-19 vaccine development, disaster relief in Tennessee, LGBTQ advocacy and efforts addressing HIV/AIDS.
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