United Way of Greater Nashville joins communities across Tennessee and around the world in honoring the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, whose extraordinary generosity and vision transformed childhood literacy through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
In the wake of her passing, Dolly’s family has encouraged friends and fans to honor her by supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in lieu of flowers. Locally, community members can carry Dolly’s legacy forward by attending upcoming Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee events and making a donation to help provide free books for children from birth to age five across the region.
“We join so many across Tennessee and around the world in remembering Dolly Parton and the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind. Through Imagination Library, Dolly gave generations of children more than books—she gave them the joy of being read to, the confidence to learn and the promise that their community believes in their future. United Way of Greater Nashville is honored to help carry that legacy forward for families across Middle Tennessee,” said Erica Mitchell, CEO of United Way of Greater Nashville.
Upcoming Events Supporting Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee
Run Nash: 9to5K Run & Walk — September 5, 2026
Participants are invited to clock out, lace up and sparkle for a Dolly-inspired running and walking event through Nashville. The event benefits United Way of Greater Nashville and Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee and welcomes runners, walkers, families and fans of all ages and fitness levels.
A Dolly Good Time — September 11, 2026
Ami McConnell Literary Agency presents A Dolly Good Time, a benefit for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee. The event will take place at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in the Oak Room and will feature an evening of community, celebration and support for children’s literacy. Special guests include co-chair Ana Christina Cash, and emcee Daniel Diamond.
Studios & Stories — September 19, 2026
Black River Entertainment will host its inaugural Studios & Stories event in Nashville in support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Hosted inside Black River’s recording studios, the experience brings together hitmakers, storytellers and the community to create music and change lives in real time, with a goal of funding a full year of books for children across Middle Tennessee. Guest writers include Doug Johnson, MaRynn Taylor, Dan Wilsom and McCall Chapin.
Kidsville Family Festival — September 26, 2026
Families are invited to stop by the Imagination Library tent and enjoy a storybook reading while learning more about how the program supports early literacy for children across Middle Tennessee.
Continuing Dolly’s Vision in Middle Tennessee
In partnership with the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation and the Dollywood Foundation, Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee delivers an age-appropriate, high-quality book each month directly to children’s mailboxes at no cost to families. All children in Tennessee, from birth to age five, are eligible.
United Way raises funds to support the cost of the books and to build awareness of this important program. Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee has distributed more than 500,000 books to more than 50,000 children throughout the region, helping families build home libraries and nurture a lifelong love of reading.
Why It Matters: Children who are read to regularly and early in life are better prepared for school. Ninety percent of physical brain development occurs in the first three years of life, when a baby forms more than one million new neural connections per second. Those early years are a critical window of opportunity for learning words and language.
Last year alone through Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee:
- Over 50,000 children were served through ILMT
- Over 510K books distributed
- Nearly 800K all-time “graduates”
How to Honor Dolly’s Legacy
Community members can honor Dolly Parton’s life and legacy by making a gift to Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee. Donations help provide free, age-appropriate books mailed directly to children from birth to age five across Middle Tennessee.
To donate, visit unitedwaygreaternashville.org/imagination-library.
To register a child to receive free books, click here.
About Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee
Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee is a partnership of United Way of Greater Nashville, the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation and the Dollywood Foundation. The program provides one free, high-quality, age-appropriate book each month to enrolled children from birth to age five, inspiring a love of reading and helping families build strong foundations for learning.