Communities Mark Dolly Parton Day With Literacy Focus

Communities across the United States are marking Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day, honoring the late singer’s music and charitable work with local events and renewed attention to children’s literacy. The date is a reference to Parton’s hit song “9 to 5,” and several cities and local governments have declared observances around the country. California became the first state to establish Sept. 25 as an annual Dolly Parton Day, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation creating the observance, according to reports on the law. Tennessee already recognizes Jan. 19, Parton’s birthday, as Dolly Parton Day. A separate proposal to add a Sept. 25 observance called “9 to 5 Day” was expected to be reviewed by Tennessee lawmakers in January 2027; no state-level decision on that proposal was reported. Nashville’s plans for Sept. 25 include pink lighting and commemorative posters, along with giveaways of bookmarks, buttons and stickers. The city’s official program also lists events and activities tied to the day. Organizers in New Orleans planned a parade through the French Quarter, while San Francisco scheduled a public celebration in Union Square.