Dolly Parton Day, communities mark 9/25 with parades and book drives

Friday, Sept. 25 is being observed as Dolly Parton Day across the United States, a nod to her hit song “9 to 5,” with counties, cities and two states declaring the date to honor the late country star who died Aug. 25 at age 80. California enacted a law signed Sept. 20 establishing Sept. 25 as an annual Dolly Parton Day, while Ohio’s governor and lieutenant governor issued a proclamation covering Sept. 25, 2026 only; New York and Pennsylvania have related bills in committee. Musicians On Call is presenting Parton-inspired performances at hospitals in Nashville, central Tennessee, Denver, Chicago, New York City and other cities to bring music to patients, veterans, caregivers and staff. Nashville’s program asks people to wear pink, observe “9 to 5” at 5 p.m. local time, distributes buttons and bookmarks at visitor centers, and will end with fireworks at 9:25 p.m. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are running a Dolly Day benefit at their Nashville bar Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk, with all Friday proceeds donated to Parton’s Imagination Library. Legislators and communities are pairing public celebrations, parades and pink lighting with book drives and fundraising to support the Imagination Library literacy program Parton founded in 1995.