The state of California, the city of Nashville, and other places across the U.S. have declared Sept. 25 as “Dolly Parton Day.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom officially signed off Sunday on state bill SB 931, which recognizes Sept. 25 — or 9/25, a nod to Parton’s hit “9 to 5” — as a day to celebrate the late country legend in the Golden State.
“Dolly Parton sparkled on every stage she ever stood on, but her brightest sparkle was the literacy legacy she built through the Imagination Library,” state Sen. Shannon Grove (R) — who co-authored the bipartisan bill with state Sen. John Laird (D) — said in a statement (via ABC 7).
“The love Dolly gave so freely, rooted in her deep and openly shared faith, and the love the world returned to her, shows how deeply she was cherished by everyone … every Sept. 25th, our state will remember the legend who put millions of books in the hands of our youngest readers and inspired the world on how to respect and love one another.”
The city of San Francisco will also hold a free “Dolly Day” celebration on Sept. 25, a “joyful day of music, rhinestones, and remembrance.”
The city of Nashville, which already renamed its airport after Parton, have also designated Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day, Mayor Freddie O’Connell previously announced, planning a day’s worth of citywide events celebrating the singer and culminating with a fireworks show.
The city of Portland, Oregon, also declared 9/25 as Dolly Parton Day. “On 9/25, let’s celebrate Dolly the way she lived,” city council president Jamie Dunphy said. “Play music. Read a book with a child. Help a neighbor. Stand up for someone who needs it. Give something back. Whatever it is, let’s do it the Dolly way, with kindness, grace and a lot of joy!”
Texas’ Montgomery and Hayes counties also approved resolutions declaring Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day.