In a celebration of literacy and early childhood education, Governor Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear welcomed country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton to Kentucky. The occasion marked a major milestone: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library now offers free books to children in every county across the state. At the historic Lyric Theatre in Lexington, more than 500 literacy advocates and community partners gathered to recognize the expansion of the program, which provides one free book each month to children from birth to age five.
Dolly Parton, whose Imagination Library aims to foster a lifelong love of reading, expressed her excitement over Kentucky’s statewide participation. “It warms my heart to know that every child from birth to age five across the state can register to receive the gift of a monthly Imagination Library book,” she said. In celebration of the milestone, Governor Beshear declared August as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky Month, and Parton was inducted into the Honorary Order of Kentucky Colonels.
During the event, Governor Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear reflected on the importance of early childhood education, with both sharing personal memories of reading with their own children. The Imagination Library, supported by a state-local funding match, is helping to create similar experiences for Kentucky families. Currently, over 120,000 children in the state are enrolled in the program.
The day culminated with a conversation between the Governor, First Lady, and Parton on the Lyric Theatre stage, where Parton shared insights about her passion for literacy and performed some of her iconic songs, including “Try” and “Coat of Many Colors.” This event continues Kentucky’s legacy of supporting the Imagination Library, which began more than two decades ago in Henderson County.
