Imagination Library of Knox County Mourns Passing of Dolly Parton
August 26, 2026, 8:52 p.m.

KNOXVILLE - Dolly Parton, founder and benefactor of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, passed away on Aug. 25, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee.

“The advisory board of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Knox County is deeply saddened by the loss of Dolly,” says Bonny Naugher, chair of the advisory board of Imagination Library of Knox County. “Her legacy lives on through the millions of children who have learned to read by receiving a free book every month from birth to 5 years. Thank you, Dolly.”

Known affectionately as “The Book Lady,” Dolly Parton created Imagination Library in 1995 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Children enrolled in an Imagination Library program receive a free book mailed to their home from birth until age 5.

Knox County Public Library became an Imagination Library local program partner in 2005 and was the first urban county in the country to participate in the program.

As of Aug. 2026, Imagination Library of Knox County has provided 4.5 million books to over 117,000 children in Knox County. Over 87,000 children have graduated from the program.

Direct Mail Services in Knoxville mails all Imagination Library books to the US and Canada, and every Imagination Libråary book mailed in North America bears a postmark from Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program partners currently serve over 3,000,000 children in five countries.