Dolly Parton's final letter to the graduates of her Imagination Library program has been shared publicly, offering a posthumous message of encouragement to young readers. The country music legend, who died at age 80 after a battle with cancer, penned the poignant note to urge children to "dream big dreams" and strive to "be anyone you want to be."
The Imagination Library, a program founded by Parton, provides free books monthly to children from birth to age five. It launched in the United States and expanded to the United Kingdom in 2008.
In her letter, Parton described books as treasures that open doors to new friends and magical journeys, emphasizing that "there is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go." She concluded the message with three pieces of advice learned from her family: to dream big, to learn everything possible, and to care for those who care for them.
This message, while delivered in a final letter, is not entirely new. A video released in 2022 featured Parton sharing the same sentiments. Parton established the Imagination Library program as a tribute to her father, Robert Lee, who was unable to read or write due to having to leave school early to work. She previously stated that the program's origin was a personal mission to help children during their most impressionable years learn to read and write.
Last year, the Imagination Library distributed over 3.4 million books monthly in the U.S. and abroad, having provided more than 300 million books since its inception. Parton had expressed immense pride in the program, calling it as significant as anything else she had accomplished in her life.
In lieu of flowers, Parton's family requested that fans honor her legacy by supporting the Imagination Library. The program previously received a $2 million donation from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in July. Parton had responded to their contribution with a video expressing her gratitude and humorously requesting their firstborn child.
In related news, Dolly Parton's estate is moving forward with a planned two-day music festival, DollyFest, to be held in Nashville and London next year. The festival, originally intended to coincide with Parton's 80th birthday in January 2026, was postponed due to her health challenges in August 2025. Danny Nozell, Founder/CEO of CTK Enterprises, stated that the festival aims to bring Parton's vision to life, emphasizing that it was a concept she actively developed. He noted that while other tributes may naturally arise, DollyFest is specifically designed to honor Parton's own wishes, as she did not desire a traditional memorial service.