Dolly Parton Day celebrated
The gist
Dozens of US cities and California declared Sept. 25 Dolly Parton Day.
The date nods to her hit "9 to 5" and her 330-million-book literacy legacy.
How it unfolded
- Aug 25, 2026Parton died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, her publicist said; her nephew Bryan Seaver announced the news on Instagram, saying she died surrounded by loved ones at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
- Sep 20, 2026California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 931, establishing Sept. 25 as an annual Dolly Parton Day in California; the bill was authored by State Senators Shannon Grove and John Laird.
- Sep 23, 2026Portland City Council held a proclamation ceremony featuring Laurie McNichols of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and a musical number from drag performer Nicole Onoscopi.