Dolly Parton Day 2026: Why September 25 was chosen to honour the country icon, the '9 to 5' connection and how fans are marking the occasion

September 25 has an unusually Dolly Parton-shaped date. With 9/25 as its designated date, it makes an appropriate reminder of one of Dolly Parton’s most popular songs called “9 to 5.”

In the year 2026, the day has been turned into an occasion to celebrate Dolly Parton Day through music, pink lighting, community activities, books, acts of kindness and other tributes.

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This celebration comes right after the demise of Dolly Parton at the age of 80 years old, highlighting her life and legacy that spanned across the different fields of country music, movies, television, business and philanthropic causes.

In California, September 25 has already been declared as Dolly Parton Day, but other states have also followed suit by creating this special occasion. In Tennessee, the state where Dolly Parton spent much of her career, communities are celebrating the occasion as well.

But the day is not being defined by music alone.

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The Imagination Library founded by Parton that distributes millions of free books to children has become one of the major tributes that communities are opting for in their tribute to her memory.

There is even a special day called 'Give Like Dolly Day' on the 25th of September, initiated by the Dollywood Foundation.

So why September 25, and how did a date inspired by a hit song turn into a wider tribute to Parton's life?

Why September 25 is linked to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5”

The answer is sitting in the calendar.

September 25 can be denoted as 9/25 in number form, which is a clear allusion to “9 to 5,” the song that Parton recorded back in 1980 for the comedy movie by the same name. The song has become one of her most identifiable songs.

The allusion is now being taken advantage of to make September 25 an annual event.

September 25 has become the first official Dolly Parton Day in California following Governor Gavin Newsom signing a bill establishing it as such. The state described the date as a direct reference to “9 to 5.”

Local governments have followed with their own recognitions. On September 25, 2026, Sevier County in Tennessee, together with Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, established the day as an annual Dolly Parton Day.

There is yet another date related to Dolly on the calendar.

In Tennessee, January 19, which is Dolly Parton's birthday, is Dolly Parton Day. The September observance therefore gives fans and communities a second opportunity to celebrate her, this time through the “9 to 5” connection.

The result is less like a traditional public holiday and more like a collection of local celebrations, commemorations and charitable activities built around a shared date.

Dolly Parton Day is turning into a celebration of giving

For many communities, the most meaningful part of Dolly Parton Day has little to do with dressing up or playing her records.

It is about books.

The Imagination Library, initiated by Parton in 1995, has since grown from its origins as a local project in her native county in Tennessee to become a global early-childhood literacy program that offers a monthly book appropriate to the child's age, free of charge and delivered directly to his/her home, to all children aged between birth and five years old who enrol for it.

Currently, the program operates through partnerships within countries in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland. According to the Dollywood Foundation, it has distributed over 300 million books globally.

This is one of the reasons why Give Like Dolly Day, announced as such by the Dollywood Foundation, will be held on September 25.

Rather than remembering her legacy, what the Dollywood Foundation is hoping for is that people will support their local Imagination Library partner, help expand the program in places where it does not exist or help any organisations working with children.

This concept is consistent with Parton's philanthropic tradition. She initiated the Imagination Library in honour of her illiterate father and made literacy in early childhood one of her best-known causes.

In other words, the 9/25 celebration has a practical component: read a book, give a book or help a child receive one.

How Nashville and other cities are celebrating Dolly Day

Nashville is giving a Dolly spin on its September 25 festivities.

For this purpose, Nashville has arranged for pink decorations, music and other activities along with fundraisers. There are many local organisations that are participating and even contributing a part of their earnings to literacy programs associated with Imagination Library.

One of the day's most obvious musical references is scheduled for 5 p.m., when more than 30 participating Nashville venues are expected to play “9 to 5” at the same time.

The city's celebration also includes a 9:25 p.m. fireworks display — another deliberate reference to the September 25 date.

Other Nashville attractions are joining the programme with Dolly-themed activities, screenings, live music and fundraising. Some businesses are using special food and drink offerings to raise money for the Imagination Library.

The celebration is not confined to Tennessee.

The Krewe of Dolly is conducting a parade in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

In San Francisco, there is a public Dolly Day celebration at Union Square that involves music and other related activities. Other places in the country have organised various activities in honour of the day, including book drives and literacy campaigns.

The format differs from one location to another, but the theme remains generally the same, namely music and nostalgia on one hand and philanthropy and community participation on the other hand.

From country music icon to a legacy that goes beyond music

Parton's career makes the scale of the celebrations easier to understand.

She became one of country music's most recognisable performers while also building careers in acting, songwriting, television production and business. Songs including “9 to 5,” “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” became part of the wider popular culture beyond country music.

Her business ventures included Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park that became closely associated with her East Tennessee roots.

But the legacy being highlighted during Dolly Parton Day is increasingly connected to what happened away from the stage.

One of the most obvious examples is the Imagination Library project. It was transformed from a personal approach to literacy into a global movement involving various local agencies, schools, libraries and other community partners.

However, Parton’s charitable activities include not only literacy but also relief aid and healthcare programs. Her philanthropic efforts have always been closely linked to her home state, although the organisations she founded have expanded well beyond the borders of Tennessee.

That is why many of the September 25 proclamations do more than acknowledge her entertainment career. California's legislation, for example, specifically highlights the Imagination Library and its literacy work alongside Parton's achievements in music, acting and business.

The celebrations also reflect the different ways people connected with Parton.

For some, September 25 is about playing “9 to 5” and “Jolene.” For others, it means wearing pink, attending a concert or public event, or simply revisiting her films and music.

For communities involved with the Imagination Library, the day offers a more direct way to continue something Parton spent decades building.

How to celebrate Dolly Parton Day 2026

Fans can start with the obvious: play Parton's music, revisit one of her films or wear something inspired by her famously colourful stage style.

But the organisers behind the September 25 observance are also pointing people towards actions that reflect her philanthropic work.

The Dollywood Foundation is encouraging people to find their local Imagination Library partner and support its work. Communities without an existing programme can explore how to establish one.

A book donation or literacy activity is another way to participate. So is supporting a local children's charity or simply making time to read with a child.

Nashville's celebration offers a more public option, with music, events, pink-lit landmarks and the evening fireworks display. Other cities have organised their own concerts, parades and community gatherings.

For fans who prefer something quieter, the date can be marked at home with a Dolly Parton playlist and a book.

The reason September 25 works so neatly is that it combines two sides of Parton's public image.

There is the entertainer who gave the world “9 to 5,” rhinestones, country hits and larger-than-life performances.

And there is the philanthropist whose name became attached to millions of children's books.

In 2026, Dolly Parton Day is bringing those two legacies together under one very deliberate date: 9/25.

And while the calendar reference comes from one of her biggest hits, the broader message being attached to the day is about something much bigger than a song — keeping her tradition of giving, reading and community support going.