September 25 Is Becoming “Dolly Day” — And Garth Brooks Is Turning the Date Into a Gift for Children
September 25 may never look quite the same again.
Written as 9/25, the date carries an unmistakable connection to Dolly Parton’s iconic song “9 to 5.” Now, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are giving that connection a deeper meaning by turning September 25 into an annual celebration of Dolly’s legacy — with children’s literacy at the heart of it.
At their Nashville venue, Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk, the couple has announced that September 25 will be recognized as “Dolly Day.” More importantly, the venue plans to donate its entire income from the day to children’s literacy through Parton’s Imagination Library. The event is intended to become an annual tradition.
It is a simple idea, but one that feels especially fitting for Parton.
Why September 25?
The choice of September 25 is a playful reference to one of Dolly Parton’s most recognizable songs, “9 to 5.”
The connection is easy to understand: 9/25 visually echoes “9 to 5,” turning an ordinary date on the calendar into a reminder of Parton’s music and cultural legacy.
But Brooks and Yearwood did not stop with the symbolism.
They attached the date to a cause that was especially important to Parton: giving children access to books.
That combination makes Dolly Day more than a name on the calendar. It creates an opportunity for people to celebrate Parton while supporting a mission she spent decades building.
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood Are Making It an Annual Tradition
The first major Dolly Day celebration will take place at Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk in downtown Nashville.
According to Brooks’ official announcement, the venue will donate its entire income for the day to children’s literacy, and the couple intends to continue the event every year.
Yearwood captured the spirit of the decision in a statement:
“Whatever the cash register says at the end of the day is going to Dolly’s passion.”
She also emphasized that the event is about Parton’s commitment to children’s literacy.
That makes the tribute particularly meaningful. Instead of simply placing Parton’s name on an event, Brooks and Yearwood are directing the attention toward something she built and supported throughout her life.
Dolly’s Imagination Library Is at the Center
Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995, inspired in part by her father, who was unable to read or write.
The program provides free books to young children, with the goal of encouraging a love of reading and giving families access to books from an early age.
The organization has grown far beyond its original beginnings in Parton’s home community. Brooks’ announcement says the program has distributed more than 300 million free books to children since its creation.
That history explains why September 25 is not simply being used as a memorial date.
It is being connected to an active mission.
Every meal, purchase and transaction at Friends in Low Places on Dolly Day is intended to contribute to children’s literacy.
In that sense, the tribute carries forward something much more important than nostalgia.
A Different Kind of Dolly Tribute
Since Parton’s death, tributes have taken many forms.
Artists have performed her songs. Fans have shared memories. Businesses and organizations have found creative ways to celebrate her music and philanthropy.
Dolly Day adds another approach.
It takes something familiar — the title of one of Parton’s greatest hits — and connects it to the charitable work that became such an important part of her public legacy.
That is significant because Parton’s career was always larger than music.
She became a songwriter, performer, actress, author and businesswoman, but she also became known for using her success to support causes affecting children and families.
The Imagination Library is perhaps the clearest example of that philosophy.
A Nashville Celebration With a Bigger Purpose
There is also something fitting about the location.
Nashville has been central to Parton’s career for decades, and Friends in Low Places sits on Broadway, one of the city’s best-known entertainment corridors.
Brooks and Yearwood’s venue is therefore turning a Nashville entertainment destination into a fundraising opportunity for a cause closely associated with Parton.
The couple also has a personal history with Parton within the country music community. Brooks and Parton co-hosted the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2023, bringing three generations of country music connections together on one stage.
Their decision to continue honoring her through a charitable tradition makes the announcement feel less like a one-time gesture and more like an ongoing commitment.
The Timing Makes the Gesture Even More Meaningful
Parton’s death was announced on August 25, 2026, at age 80. Her family subsequently encouraged people who wished to honor her to consider donations to the Imagination Library rather than sending flowers.
Brooks and Yearwood’s announcement came shortly afterward, giving fans another practical way to connect remembrance with the cause Parton cared about.
Rather than asking people simply to remember Dolly, Dolly Day gives them something to do.
They can participate in a celebration, support a Nashville business and, most importantly, help contribute to children’s literacy.
That is a particularly appropriate way to remember someone whose philanthropy was so closely connected to helping children.
Tennessee May Take the Idea Even Further
The idea of recognizing September 25 is not limited to Brooks and Yearwood.
A Tennessee lawmaker has proposed legislation that would establish a statewide observance connected to Parton and the “9 to 5” reference. The proposal is expected to be considered during the next legislative session.
That means the concept could eventually move beyond one Nashville venue.
For now, however, the Brooks and Yearwood event is a concrete example of what Dolly Day can look like: music, community and philanthropy tied together around one recognizable date.
There is also evidence that the idea is already spreading beyond Tennessee. New Orleans, for example, has announced a September 25 tribute connected to the Krewe of Dolly, with proceeds supporting the Imagination Library.
Why the Idea Fits Dolly So Well
Perhaps the most fitting element is that Dolly Day does not require people to separate the entertainer from the philanthropist.
The 9/25 connection celebrates the songwriter who gave the world “9 to 5.”
The fundraising component celebrates the woman who created the Imagination Library.
Put the two together, and the result is a tribute that reflects both sides of Parton’s legacy.
The song reminds people where she came from creatively.
The books remind people what she chose to do with her success.
That distinction matters.
Parton’s legacy is not limited to recordings that remain popular decades after they were released. It also exists in the lives of children who received books because she believed access to reading could open doors.
The Date Is Simple — The Meaning Is Bigger
There is something appealing about the simplicity of the idea.
No complicated explanation is needed.
September 25. 9/25. “9 to 5.” Dolly Parton.
And then comes the part that gives the date substance: help put books into children’s hands.
Brooks and Yearwood have essentially created a template that other businesses, communities and fans could potentially follow.
A September 25 event does not have to look exactly like Dolly Day at Friends in Low Places. The important part is the connection between celebration and generosity.
Whether more communities formally adopt the date remains to be seen.
But the idea has already begun to travel.
A Legacy That Keeps Moving Forward
Dolly Parton spent much of her life talking about dreams, education, opportunity and kindness.
The Imagination Library brought those ideas into practice.
Now, after her death, the people who admired her are finding ways to keep that work visible.
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood’s Dolly Day is one of those efforts.
It takes a clever date and turns it into an annual charitable tradition.
It takes a song title and connects it to books.
And it takes a celebration of Dolly Parton’s life and points it toward the children who will inherit her world.
September 25 may have started as just another date.
But at Friends in Low Places, it now has a purpose.
9/25 is Dolly Day — and the best part is that the celebration is designed to give something back.