Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood Turn September 25 Into “Dolly Day” for a Cause Close to Dolly Parton’s Heart
Dolly Parton’s legacy is being honored in a way that goes far beyond music.
Garth Brooks and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, have announced that their Nashville venue, Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk, will dedicate September 25 to Dolly Parton and children’s literacy, with the proceeds from the entire day going toward the Imagination Library.
The couple is calling it “Dolly Day,” and they intend to make it an annual tradition.
The date itself carries a clever connection to one of Parton’s most recognizable songs.
Why September 25 Was Chosen
September 25, written as 9/25, is a nod to Dolly Parton’s classic hit “9 to 5.”
Rather than simply choosing a day to remember the country legend, Brooks and Yearwood connected the date directly to her music and then attached the celebration to one of the causes she cared about most.
Friends in Low Places will donate its entire income for the day to children’s literacy, according to Brooks’ official announcement.
That makes the event about more than nostalgia.
It is designed to continue something Parton spent decades building.
Trisha Yearwood Put the Meaning Simply
Yearwood explained the idea in a statement that focused on where the money will ultimately go.
“Whatever the cash register says at the end of the day is going to Dolly’s passion.”
She added that the event is completely about Parton and her commitment to children’s literacy.
It is a fitting choice for Parton’s legacy.
Throughout her career, Parton repeatedly connected her success to giving children opportunities, particularly through access to books and education.
The Imagination Library Was One of Dolly’s Greatest Contributions
Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995, initially creating the program in her home region of East Tennessee.
The organization provides free books to young children, with the program eventually expanding far beyond the United States.
According to information shared in Brooks’ announcement, the Imagination Library has distributed more than 332 million books since its creation.
Parton was inspired in part by her father, who never learned to read or write.
That personal connection helped shape a philanthropic effort that became one of the most recognizable parts of her legacy.
Dolly Day Will Become an Annual Tradition
Brooks and Yearwood are not treating September 25 as a one-time tribute.
They plan to make Dolly Day an annual event at Friends in Low Places.
That decision gives the tribute a future beyond the immediate period of mourning following Parton’s death.
Every year, the venue will have an opportunity to connect its customers with Parton’s music while raising money for children’s literacy.
The idea also reflects the way Parton approached philanthropy throughout her life: taking something personal and turning it into something that could benefit people she might never meet.
Garth Brooks Says Dolly’s Legacy Will Continue
Brooks also shared his own thoughts about the tribute, emphasizing the lasting impact Parton had on people.
“Dolly may be the perfect example of if you spend your whole life loving, you WILL live forever.”
His statement captures the broader purpose behind the event.
The goal isn’t simply to remember Parton as a singer or songwriter. It is to keep supporting the values and causes she championed.
A Nashville Venue With a Personal Connection
Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk is located on Broadway in downtown Nashville.
The venue, opened by Brooks and Yearwood, is already closely connected to country music culture. Turning one day of its annual calendar into a fundraiser for Parton’s literacy program gives the venue another connection to the wider country music community.
Instead of creating a tribute that exists only on a stage, the couple is using the business itself to raise money.
That makes the idea particularly straightforward: people can visit the venue, enjoy the day and know that the income generated will support a cause associated with Parton.
More Than a Tribute to a Country Music Icon
Parton’s influence extended well beyond her recording career.
She became a songwriter whose compositions were recorded by generations of performers, an actress recognized around the world, a successful businesswoman and a major philanthropist.
But the Imagination Library occupies a special place in that story because it is directly connected to her childhood and her family.
The program began with a simple idea: put books into children’s hands.
Decades later, that idea had grown into an international literacy initiative.
For Brooks and Yearwood, supporting it provides a way to honor Parton without trying to recreate her career.
Other Dolly Tributes Are Also Supporting Her Literacy Mission
The decision by Friends in Low Places comes as other organizations and artists look for ways to honor Parton’s legacy.
The focus on literacy has become particularly important because Parton’s family asked that people consider donations to the Imagination Library rather than sending flowers following her death.
That has given fans, businesses and fellow entertainers a clear way to turn their affection for Parton into practical support.
It also means that tributes can continue to make a difference long after the initial headlines have faded.
The Meaning Behind “Dolly Day”
There is something fitting about combining “9 to 5” with the Imagination Library.
“9 to 5” is one of Parton’s best-known songs, a cultural touchstone that has remained recognizable for decades.
The Imagination Library represents another side of her career — the part focused on helping children and supporting literacy.
By choosing 9/25 and donating the day’s income to the literacy program, Brooks and Yearwood are connecting two very different parts of Parton’s legacy.
One comes from the music that made her famous.
The other comes from the work she chose to do with that fame.
A Tribute That Can Keep Growing
The most meaningful part of Dolly Day may ultimately be its potential to grow.
One Nashville bar is starting the tradition, but the concept is easy for others to understand.
A date connected to “9 to 5.”
A celebration of Dolly Parton’s music.
And money directed toward children receiving books.
Whether other businesses eventually adopt similar events remains to be seen, but Brooks and Yearwood have established a clear example of how a tribute can become an ongoing charitable effort.
For now, September 25 will have a special place on the calendar at Friends in Low Places.
And if the event continues every year as planned, Dolly Day will offer something particularly appropriate for Parton’s legacy: a celebration that doesn’t just look backward.
It helps put books into the hands of the next generation.
That may be one of the most fitting ways possible to keep Dolly Parton’s spirit of generosity alive.