New York Declares September 25 Dolly Parton Appreciation Day — And the Date Has a Special Meaning

New York Declares September 25 Dolly Parton Appreciation Day — And the Date Has a Special Meaning

New York City is preparing to honor Dolly Parton in a way that could hardly be more fitting for the country music legend.

On Friday, September 25, 2026, Manhattan will officially recognize Dolly Parton Appreciation Day—and the date itself carries a special connection to one of Parton’s most iconic songs.

September 25 is written as 9/25, a tribute to Parton’s legendary hit “9 to 5.”

The designation was announced by Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who formally proclaimed September 25 as Dolly Parton Appreciation Day in the borough.

“I am officially declaring 9/25 (“9 to 5”) as Dolly Parton Appreciation Day in the Borough of Manhattan,” Hoylman-Sigal said in a proclamation shared on September 2.

The honor comes just days after Parton died at the age of 80 on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer, prompting an enormous wave of tributes from fans and communities across the country.

And in New York, officials chose a date that connects directly to one of the songs that helped define Parton’s extraordinary career.

Released in 1980 as the theme song for the film 9 to 5, the song became one of Parton’s signature recordings.

The movie starred Parton alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, while the song itself became a major success and earned Parton an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

But the Manhattan proclamation is about much more than a hit record.

It recognizes a career that stretched across music, film, television and entertainment while also celebrating the extraordinary humanitarian legacy Parton built away from the spotlight.

That second part may ultimately be one of the most important reasons her legacy has reached so far beyond country music.

For decades, Parton used her success to support children, literacy and education.

Her journey from humble beginnings in Tennessee to becoming one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world has often been presented as a story of talent and determination.

But the Manhattan proclamation also highlights something else: her commitment to giving back.

Hoylman-Sigal praised Parton’s “compassion, resilience, humor and dedication to giving back,” describing those qualities as part of what made her an enduring symbol of hope and generosity.

The proclamation specifically recognizes her timeless music, groundbreaking performances, distinctive voice and personality, as well as the humanitarian work that became such a significant part of her public legacy.

And one organization stands out above the rest.

The Legacy Beyond the Stage

In 1995, Parton launched the Imagination Library, a children's literacy initiative designed to give young children access to books regardless of their family's financial circumstances.

The program mails free, high-quality books to registered children from birth until their fifth birthday.

For Parton, the mission was deeply personal.

Her father, Robert Lee, was illiterate, and his experience helped inspire her decision to create a program centered on childhood literacy.

What began as an initiative connected to Parton’s home state eventually grew into something much larger.

The Imagination Library expanded into communities around the world and has distributed more than 300 million free books during its more than three decades of operation.

In the United States alone, the program sent more than 38 million books to children in the previous year.

That means Parton’s impact can be measured not only through record sales, awards or performances, but through the millions of children who received a book because of an initiative carrying her name.

For Parton, that work was clearly personal.

In a 2021 interview with PEOPLE, she described herself as being “kind of addicted to the feeling of giving,” explaining that she valued knowing she was doing something good for someone else.

And when she discussed the Imagination Library in 2022, she made clear how much pride she took in the program.

She said the initiative was among the accomplishments she was proudest of in her life.

Her philosophy was remarkably straightforward: she wanted to support causes she genuinely believed in, rather than simply giving money for appearances or a tax benefit.

That philosophy became a defining part of her public image.

It also helps explain why the response to her death has extended far beyond the country music community.

A New York Tribute With a “9 to 5” Twist

The Manhattan proclamation gives New York City its own way to participate in that national outpouring of remembrance.

And the choice of September 25 was anything but random.

Parton’s “9 to 5” has remained one of her most recognizable songs, transforming an ordinary phrase associated with the American workday into one of the most memorable titles in popular music.

By choosing 9/25, Manhattan created a tribute that connects the city’s official recognition directly to Parton’s artistic legacy.

It is a particularly fitting choice because the song itself was rooted in the experiences of working Americans.

But the proclamation also places that cultural legacy alongside Parton’s philanthropic achievements.

The result is a tribute to the full scope of her career—not simply the singer who stood on stages around the world, but the entertainer, actress, songwriter and philanthropist whose influence reached generations.

That distinction matters.

Parton became famous through music, but her reputation eventually grew into something much broader.

She became a cultural figure whose name was associated with generosity, optimism, humor and an unmistakable ability to connect with audiences.

Her story began in Tennessee, far from the center of the entertainment industry.

Yet over the course of her career, she became one of the most celebrated entertainers in American history.

Now Manhattan is adding its own chapter to that story.

Tributes Continue Across New York

The borough’s proclamation comes amid an outpouring of tributes to Parton throughout New York City.

One of the most visible tributes came from the Empire State Building, which was lit in pink in her memory.

That display added a powerful visual element to the city's farewell to an entertainer whose image and music had become recognizable around the world.

The Manhattan designation takes that remembrance one step further by placing Parton’s name directly on the city's calendar.

And the timing makes the gesture especially poignant.

September 25 will arrive exactly one month after her death on August 25.

For fans, the date will therefore carry two meanings: a formal celebration of her life and a reminder of how quickly the country music world lost one of its most influential figures.

But perhaps the most fitting element is that the tribute does not focus exclusively on the sadness of her passing.

Instead, it emphasizes what Parton left behind.

The songs.

The performances.

The laughter.

The stories.

And, perhaps most importantly, the opportunities created for children who may never have had access to books without her philanthropic work.

A Legacy Measured in More Than Music

Dolly Parton’s career could easily have been remembered solely through her music.

“9 to 5,” along with countless other songs, established her as one of the defining voices of country music and American popular culture.

Her work in film and television expanded that influence even further.

But the Imagination Library and her other charitable efforts gave her legacy another dimension.

More than 300 million free books represent an extraordinary number on its own.

Yet behind that number are individual children, individual families and individual communities.

That is ultimately what the Manhattan proclamation is celebrating.

Hoylman-Sigal’s statement describes Parton’s life and legacy as something that continues to inspire generations, pointing to her talent, kindness and humanitarian spirit.

The honor therefore recognizes both sides of her public life: the entertainer millions of people loved and the philanthropist who quietly built programs designed to help people she might never meet.

That combination made Parton unusual.

She could fill a stage with her personality and music, yet her most enduring work may be found in places far removed from concert halls—in classrooms, homes and children's bookshelves.

September 25 Will Belong to Dolly Parton

When September 25 arrives, Manhattan will have a new reason to remember Dolly Parton.

The date will be officially known as Dolly Parton Appreciation Day, but the meaning behind it goes much deeper than a clever connection between 9/25 and “9 to 5.”

It is a recognition of a woman who transformed a difficult childhood into an extraordinary American success story.

It is a celebration of a performer whose music crossed generations.

And it is a tribute to a philanthropist whose commitment to children and literacy has reached millions.

More details about the plans surrounding Dolly Parton Appreciation Day are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

For now, one thing is certain.

On September 25, New York will not simply be remembering a country music icon.

It will be celebrating the legacy she spent a lifetime building.

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And fittingly, the date will carry the name of one of the songs that helped make Dolly Parton a legend:

9 to 5.