New York proclaims September 25 as Dolly Parton Day

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has officially proclaimed September 25 as ‘Dolly Parton Day’ to honor the singer-songwriter’s musical career and philanthropic contributions. The date was chosen as a tribute to her iconic song ‘9 to 5’.

As part of this designation, the state has allocated one million dollars to support a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This funding complements an existing agreement by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to provide free monthly books to children up to age five, regardless of socioeconomic status. The Imagination Library, founded by Parton in 1995, has distributed over 330 million books globally.

Separately, the date of September 25 holds historical significance in rock music. On this day in 1980, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham passed away, an event that ultimately led to the band's dissolution. The date also marks various milestones for other major rock acts, including Nirvana, Black Sabbath, and U2.