Today Is Dolly Parton Day – It’s 9/25

Today is officially Dolly Parton Day in the state of California and in dozens of municipalities across the U.S. The date’s significance should be obvious to fans of the late country music legend: 9-2-5 references Parton’s hit single “9 to 5” from the 1980 film of the same in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

“We could all afford to live a little more like Dolly,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement announcing the passage of SB931, which may be the least controversial bill he’ll ever sign. “Be kind, be humble, and have some fun… With this bill, we are not just establishing a day to celebrate Dolly Parton, we are creating an annual reminder to us, every year, to live the way she did — joyfully, graciously, and with a whole lot of heart.”

“Her legacy goes well beyond her music,” Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), who co-authored the bipartisan bill with Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), said in a statement. “Now, every 9-2-5, California gets to celebrate Dolly and the remarkable legacy she shared with all of us.”

“9 to 5” was an important record in Parton’s career. It was her first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, her first Oscar nominee for best original song and a double Grammy winner (best country song and best country vocal performance, female). Read much more about this classic hit in Billboard’s Forever No. 1 series.

California SB931 – it’s too bad SB925 was already taken – was signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 20. It calls on the Governor to annually proclaim September 25 as Dolly Parton Day. Here are verbatim excerpts from the legislation:

• “International philanthropist, musician, and icon Dolly Parton dedicated her life to uplifting communities, promoting early literacy, and fostering a love of reading, learning, and music worldwide.
• “Dolly Parton lived a life of strong personal faith and displayed her beliefs through love, forgiveness, and compassion for others. She approached life with optimism, responsibility, and a humbleness that inspired millions of people.
• “Beyond Dolly Parton’s legendary creative career, she was a fierce advocate for equality and a beloved ally to the LGBTQ+ community, exemplifying a lifelong dedication to human dignity, acceptance, and inclusion for all people.
• “Dolly Parton also had a deep connection to the African American community. She earned an estimated $10,000,000 from Whitney Houston’s legendary 1992 cover song, “I Will Always Love You,” but chose to invest that wealth directly back into a historically black neighborhood in the City of Nashville, Tennessee.
• “In 1995, Dolly Parton established the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which initially gifted books to children in the County of Sevier, Tennessee, where Dolly grew up. The program quickly expanded to provide books to children around the world. Since its inception, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has mailed millions of free books directly to children from birth to five years of age, regardless of family income.
• “It is fitting and proper for the State of California to recognize Dolly Parton’s profound contributions to global literacy, humanitarianism, and the children of California by officially designating September 25 as Dolly Parton Day.”

Tennessee, Parton’s home state, already recognizes Jan. 19 – Parton’s birthday – as Dolly Parton Day. While state lawmakers have to wait until January 2027 to review and vote on the proposal to add a Sept. 25 “9 to 5 Day,” cities and local governments across the state have separately declared Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day, including Nashville, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

In early September, Manhattan borough president Brad Hoylman-Sigal declared Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Appreciation Day. Cities and counties recognizing Dolly Parton Day include Portland, Oregon and two counties in Texas – Hays County and Montgomery County.

Celebrations will be held to honor the late singer in Nashville, San Francisco and New Orleans, among other cities.