Dolly Parton’s Greatest Legacy May Not Be Music — It’s the Millions of Children She Taught to Love Reading

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The world knows Dolly Parton as the Queen of Country, the voice behind timeless hits like Jolene and I Will Always Love You. But those closest to her say her proudest achievement wasn’t a song—it was putting books into the hands of children.

For more than three decades, Parton quietly built one of the largest literacy movements in the world, helping more than 330 million books reach young readers through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

A Promise Inspired by Her Father

Parton often said the idea came from her father, Robert Lee Parton, who never learned to read or write.

Growing up in rural Tennessee, she watched how illiteracy limited opportunities despite her father’s intelligence. In 1995, she decided to honor him by launching the Imagination Library in her hometown of Sevier County.

The mission was beautifully simple: every enrolled child would receive one free, age-appropriate book every month from birth until their fifth birthday—regardless of family income.

Today, the program operates across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.

The Books Dolly Wrote Herself

Parton didn’t just give away books—she became a bestselling author across multiple genres.

Her children’s books include the beloved Billy the Kid series, following a music-loving bulldog as he learns lessons about friendship, confidence and kindness.

She also adapted one of her most personal songs into the picture book Coat of Many Colors, introducing new generations to the story of her humble childhood in the Smoky Mountains.

Memoirs, Fashion and Fiction

Beyond children’s literature, Parton wrote books celebrating every chapter of her remarkable life.

Her bestselling memoirs include:

• Dream More — an inspirational collection about purpose and perseverance.
• Songteller: My Life in Lyrics — stories behind her greatest songs.
• Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones — a tribute to the iconic costumes that became part of her identity.
• Star of the Show — a photographic celebration of her decades on stage.

In 2022, she surprised readers again by co-authoring the suspense novel Run, Rose, Run with bestselling author James Patterson, proving her storytelling talent extended well beyond music.

Her Favorite Books Might Surprise You

Despite writing numerous bestsellers, Parton remained an enthusiastic reader herself.

Among the books she frequently recommended were:

• The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• Black Mountain Breakdown by Lee Smith
• The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
• Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Her selections reflected the themes she valued most: resilience, hope and the transformative power of imagination.

“You Can Be Anyone You Want to Be”

When children graduate from the Imagination Library at age five, many receive a farewell letter written by Dolly herself.

In it, she encourages them to keep reading, visit their local libraries and dream without limits.

Her final message captures the philosophy that guided her entire life:

“You can be anyone you want to be.”

For millions of children, those words arrived in the mailbox alongside their very first books. And that may be Dolly Parton’s most enduring masterpiece—not a record, but a lifelong love of reading that continues to change lives around the world.