MEDFORD, Ore. (Aug. 26, 2026) — Dolly Parton’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief across Oregon, where her legacy extends far beyond music and entertainment through a literacy program that provides free books to young children.
For families and organizations connected to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the loss is deeply personal.
“I was in a meeting when the first phone notification came through. Then another. And another,” said Ginny Auer, executive director of the Jackson County Library Foundation. “Before long, texts, phone calls, and emails were flooding in as the news spread among our Dolly Parton Imagination Library steering committee members and friends.”
Auer said the messages were filled with heartbreak, gratitude, memories and stories about the ways Parton had affected people’s lives.
“There really are no words big enough for a loss like this,” she said.
Parton was known worldwide as a singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman, but she also built a lasting reputation as a philanthropist, particularly through her commitment to children and early literacy.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was established by Parton in 1995 in honor of her father, who was unable to read or write. The program provides children from birth through age 5 with one free, age-appropriate book each month, mailed directly to their homes regardless of their family’s income.
The program has expanded from Parton’s home community in Tennessee to communities throughout the United States and other countries.
In Oregon, the program is now available statewide, allowing children in every county and ZIP code to participate.
The goal is to encourage children to develop a love of reading while giving parents and caregivers opportunities to read with their children from an early age.
In the Medford area, the Jackson County Library Foundation partnered with Jackson County Library Services and the United Rotary Clubs of Southern Oregon to launch the local Imagination Library program in 2023.
Today, more than 4,800 Jackson County children receive a book in the mail each month.
Each book, Auer said, represents an opportunity for a child and parent to read together, develop curiosity and imagination, and establish a lifelong relationship with learning.
“None of that would be possible without you,” Auer said, thanking local donors and supporters who have helped fund the program.
The local program is an example of how Parton’s original vision has been carried forward by communities that provide the financial support needed to put books into children’s hands.
“Dolly may have dreamed the Imagination Library, but communities like ours helped build it,” Auer said.
Oregon remembers Parton
Oregon lawmakers and early childhood literacy advocates also recognized Parton’s contributions.
House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, Metzger and South Beaverton, said he was “absolutely heartbroken” by Parton’s death and praised her dedication to encouraging children to read.
“Dolly’s legacy will live on through the books that reach Oregon’s youngest readers and families through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library,” Bowman said.
House Minority Leader Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, said Parton used the platform she built through her entertainment career to improve the lives of others.
“Dolly’s legacy will live on right here in Oregon’s Imagination Library Program,” Elmer said. “Reading has been known to inspire dreams when the right book falls into the right hands.”
Lisa Harnisch, executive director of the Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub, said Parton demonstrated the power of both music and literacy.
“Perhaps her greatest legacy is the thousands of children who now have books in their hands, opening the door to a lifelong love and joy of reading,” Harnisch said.
Harnisch said 9,244 children are currently receiving books through the program in the Marion and Polk communities, while another 4,934 children have graduated from the program.
A program designed to continue
Amid the grief surrounding Parton’s death, the organizations operating the Imagination Library have emphasized that the program will continue.
The Dollywood Foundation, which oversees the program, has told partners that the Imagination Library was built to continue beyond Parton’s lifetime.
For Jackson County, that means children will continue receiving books every month.
Auer said that continuity provides comfort at a time of tremendous loss.
Years from now, Parton’s songs will continue to be performed and her stories will continue to be told. But her influence may also be found in quieter moments — a child opening a book addressed specifically to them, a parent reading a bedtime story or a young reader discovering a new idea or possibility.
“As we mourn this tremendous loss, I find comfort in knowing that her work continues every month in mailboxes across Jackson County,” Auer said. “Her love for children continues. Her belief in literacy continues. Her faith in what young people can achieve continues.”
For those who have helped build Jackson County’s program, continuing that work is now viewed as one of the most meaningful ways to honor Parton.
“The greatest tribute we can offer Dolly is to keep going,” Auer said. “To keep reaching children. To keep putting books into homes. To keep building the future she imagined.”
Auer thanked Jackson County donors and supporters for helping make Parton’s vision a reality locally.
“Your generosity has created a legacy that will endure for generations,” she said, “and together we will ensure that Dolly’s gift of literacy, imagination and hope continues to find its way into the hands and hearts of children for many years to come.”
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