By BETHANY IRVINE
State Affairs
While country music legend Dolly Parton was a Tennessee native, it was her devotion to literacy that cemented her ties to the Sunflower State.
Kansas takes part in Parton’s Imagination Library, a gifting program that mails free books to children monthly from birth until age 5. The renowned singer, songwriter and actress, who died Tuesday after a brief illness, established the Library in her home state in 1995 as a tribute to her father, who couldn't read.
Pratt became the first community outside Tennessee to launch a local program in 2005. Over the last three decades, it has expanded to serve children across the U.S. and in several other countries, with roughly 1 in 6 children under age 5 in the U.S. enrolled, according to program data.
For years, the program served only parts of Kansas, relying on private money from foundations. In 2023, Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, led an effort with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to secure additional funding to expand the book-gifting program statewide through public-private partnerships.
Waymaster said he was “deeply saddened” by Parton’s death, noting he advocated for statewide expansion after seeing the program benefit his own children.
“When our son was born, one of the pieces of paperwork we had when we were signing out was the application to sign up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, so I immediately signed up my son,” Waymaster said. “We just immediately started receiving books, and we were able to spend time with him and read books to him every night.”
Waymaster added that while his oldest son has phased out of the program, he still loves to read, and his twin boys are now enrolled.
“I saw the value of what this did for my son, and I think every child should have the ability … to receive a free book every single month from zero to 5,” Waymaster told State Affairs.
The governor recognized Parton’s contributions to the state in a statement on Parton's passing Tuesday evening, noting “her legacy will live on through the generations to come.”
"Through all the people inspired by her songs, through all the children who learn to read because Dolly made sure they had books in their homes, through all the Tennessee mountain families who found meaningful work because Dolly invested in their communities,” Kelly wrote.Gov. Laura Kelly, left, talks with country music star Dolly Parton on Monday, Aug. 14, in Overland Park. (Credit: Brett Stover)
In 2023, the country music legend joined Kelly and Waymaster at an event in Overland Park commemorating the statewide expansion. Parton spoke with Kelly about the program's origins and performed “Coat of Many Colors” and “Try.”
Waymaster said it was “an honor” to meet Parton in 2023, and he shared a sweet moment with his son, Christian.
The lawmaker said a member of Parton’s team passed his son a yellow flower, telling him to “give this flower to the lady with the big blonde hair.” After taking a group photo, Parton asked to have a separate photo with Christian.
“We have that picture of Dolly Parton and just Christian, and they're both holding that flower,” said Waymaster.
Waymaster added that he expects the program to continue after Dolly’s passing and hopes that all 50 states eventually adopt a statewide program.
“For the amount of money that we invest into the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, in the end, it saves us in regards to literacy,” Waymaster said.