The country music icon died at age 80 on Aug. 25, leaving behind a legacy dating back seven decades
Credit: Art Streiber
NEED TO KNOW
- Dolly Parton’s family shared a meaningful way fans could honor the late country music icon
- On Aug. 25, the “Jolene” singer’s loved ones announced the heartbreaking news that she died at age 80
- Known widely for her philanthropic efforts, her family encouraged fans to honor her legacy by donating to a special cause close to her heart — Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s family announced a special way fans could honor the late country music icon’s legacy.
On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the “Jolene” singer’s family announced on Instagram that she died at age 80. Shortly after the initial news, Parton’s loved ones shared a touching tribute to her, highlighting her seven-decade career, timeless music and compassionate personality.
Known widely for her philanthropic efforts, the family encouraged devoted fans to honor Parton’s legacy by donating to a special cause close to her heart — Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
“Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com,” they wrote. “In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com”
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From starting her Dollywood Foundation in the 1980s to help children in Sevier County, Tenn. — where she grew up — achieve educational success, to funding COVID vaccine research, Parton’s philanthropic efforts, like her career, were legendary
“I’m kind of addicted to the feeling of giving,” the country star told PEOPLE in 2021 for a People of the Year cover story. “Knowing that I’m doing something good for someone else.”
The following year, she was recognized with the prestigious Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy for her decades of charitable efforts, which also include her foundation’s Imagination Library, a monthly book gifting program for children under five.
“I’m proud of the Imagination Library as much as anything I’ve ever done in my life,” Parton told PEOPLE while receiving the award in 2022. The same night, the country icon also shared how she finds causes to support, revealing that she has a team of staffers helping out.
She also said she followed her heart.
“I always want to do things that I can be proud to talk about, things that I believe in,” she told PEOPLE at the time. “I cannot be a hypocrite and just say I’m going to donate this money for a tax write-off. I’d really like for it to mean something to me — something I can take pride in.”
Credit: Jim Wright
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The Imagination Library, the Dollywood Foundation’s childhood literacy program, is perhaps the charitable effort Parton is best known for. As of 2025, the project now gives more than 3.4 million books per month to children in the U.S. and abroad, totaling to more than 300 million free books in the 30-plus years it has been active.
It is also personal for Parton, who was inspired by her father Robert Lee’s illiteracy when she founded it.
“That always made me feel bad about my dad, so I started it based on that, just for our county,” Parton told PEOPLE of the effort in 2022. “It’s just grown in leaps and bounds ever since then, but it came from a place in my heart to try to help children in their young years, their most impressionable years, to learn how to read and write.”
The project received a major contribution in 2026 when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce made a $2 million gift as one of several donations made ahead of their wedding. “I’m blown away and overjoyed with that gratitude,” Parton said in a video thanking the stars at the time.
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