Dolly Parton, American singer-songwriter known for her country hits, will be reading bedtime stories starting Thursday, April 2.
As the music industry icon serenaded us with timeless songs "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene", the 74-year-old hyphenate will now lull audiences worldwide with her bedtime stories on behalf of her Imagination Library.
In a video posted on Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Facebook page, the artist and humanitarian introduced herself as "The Book Lady", before announcing her new program "Goodnight With Dolly" in which Parton would read books from her library. Moreover, in a post on the Imagination Library's website, it said that the "10-week series will focus on comforting and reassuring children" during the shelter-in-place orders due to the coronavirus update.
The post also conveyed Dolly's hopes that the new video series would provide a "welcomed distraction during a time of unrest" as well as inspiring kids to read more.
Among the titles to be included in Dolly Parton's readings are "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper, "Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon" by Patty Lovell, and "Pass It On" by Sophy Henn. "Goodnight With Dolly" would also include children's stories written by the Iron Butterfly herself, "I Am a Rainbow" and the popular "Coat of Many Colors" which, according to Parton herself, was based on her childhood experience.
The Imagination Library's Book Lady, born Dolly Rebecca Parton, is a singer-songwriter who plays a multitude of instruments including the banjo, violin, harmonica, saxophone, and the Appalachian dulcimer. Aside from performing, she is also a record producer, an actress with roles in TV and movies, an author, and an entrepreneur.
Her illustrious music career, spanning five decades starting with her 1967 debut album "Hello, I'm Dolly", includes 25 RIAA-certified albums for multi-platinum, platinum, and gold awards, 25 Billboard Country music chart-toppers, and a record of 41 top-10 albums. She also has 10 Grammys, 10 Country Music Association Awards, and three American Music Awards under her belt.
The Queen of Country also made TV and movie appearances including her 1982 starring role in the musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She would also star in the movies "Steel Magnolias" in 1989, "Straight Talk" in 1992, and "Joyful Noise" in 2012.
Also, Dolly Parton has been heavily involved in humanitarian and charity works. Shortly after opening the Tennessee theme park "Dollywood," The Iron Butterfly has established The Dollywood Foundation" which offers scholarships to deserving high school students in the area. In 1995, Parton's nonprofit arm would give birth to the Imagination Library, a free book-giving initiative for children up to five years old. Its popularity led to replication of these efforts across the United States, as well as in Canada, United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Yesterday, Dolly Parton's native Tennessee (TN) is among the U.S. states that have adopted a shelter-in-place measure in response to the mounting coronavirus positives. In a report published by WKRN, a local news outlet, Governor Bill Lee issues a "Safer at Home" executive order. Contrary to most "shelter-in-place" orders in other states, the TN executive order is not mandatory but urges people to stay home.
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