Dolly Parton backs Scottish Sun’s Free Books for Schools campaign and insists putting novels in children’s hands will be her greatest legacy
The country music icon has supported our campaign after she launched her own Imagination Library back in 1995
DOLLY Parton has had over 110 worldwide hits, starred in a string of Hollywood movies and millions flock to her theme park — but she insists putting books in the hands of children will be her greatest legacy.
The country music icon has backed our Free Books For Schools campaign after she launched her own Imagination Library back in her home state of Tennessee in 1995.
Since then her ambitious scheme has expanded all across the US, Canada, Australia and to the UK, giving away their 100th million book earlier this year.
And in an exclusive interview with The Scottish Sun, Dolly supported our iniitiative which has seen us team up with Collins publishers to give away £1million worth of educational titles.
The singer, 72 said: “We’re trying to bring this gift to all children, whether they are from Scotland or Mississippi.
"Whether they are rich or poor. Or whether they live in towns or live in the country.
HOW TO REGISTER: Here’s how primaries can get involved in our Free Books for Schools campaign
"I am all about the values we all share in this world — love, respect, acceptance, integrity and commitment.”
Dolly explained how she is motivated to keep growing the worldwide project in memory of her late father Lee Parton.
She said: “My Daddy, not long before he passed, told me he was more proud of the Imagination Library than anything I’d ever done.
“I feel the same way because I truly believe this effort will last many years after I am gone from this world.”
Born in The Great Smoky Mountains, Dolly was the fourth of 12 children to parents Avie and Lee.
She maintains she is determined to give youngsters the start in life which was denied to her dad, who passed away in 2000 aged 79.
Dolly — who has penned more than 3,000 songs including Whitney Houston’s 1992 global smash I Will Always Love You — said: “This all starts with my Daddy.
"He was a smart, smart man but he could not read or write. He never had the chance to go to school because he was a working man from day one.
"I could see how his inability to read or write held him back.
“So I thought one day I am going to try to do something significant so all kids would at least have the opportunity to love books and to love reading.”
Dolly started performing at the age of six in a local church. But she admits she escaped her “dirt- poor” existence through her love of music and books.
And she revealed her first tome, apart from the family Bible, was The Little Engine That Could — a 1930s’ American fairytale used to teach children the value of optimism and hard work.
She says: “I have always loved its message of ‘I think I can.’ What a wonderful way to encourage children to dream and to believe in themselves.
“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true.
NOVEL IDEA HAS SPREAD
DOLLY’S Imagination Library launched in the US in 1995.
The programme came to the UK in 2007 and to Scotland four years later.
Currently 2,613 kids aged up to five are receiving books across the country, with housing associations getting on board to help deliver the programme.
All 32 of Scotland’s local authorities have also become affiliates of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Kirsteen Watson, Regional Director of The Dollywood Foundation UK, who works out of Edinburgh, said: “Dolly is committed to ensuring the Imagination Library plays a key role in the development and education of children, by allowing them to create a home library of books which their parents can read to them from the moment they are born.”
“I know there are children everywhere with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister.
“Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer.
"But the seeds of these dreams are often found in books — and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.”
Dolly has won a Grammy and been nominated for two Oscars for her songwriting, appeared in box office hits including 9 To 5 in 1980 and Steel Magnolias in 1989, while her US theme park Dollywood attracts 2.5million visitors a year.
But she reckons the best accolade is the delight experienced by the 1.3million under-fives who get a book through the letterbox every month from Imagination Library.
Scottish Sun delighted to launch Free Books for Schools campaign to give away £1MILLION worth of educational titles
She says: “Nothing beats the child’s excitement about receiving their very own book in the mail with their name on it.
“There is hardly a day that goes by without someone telling me about the joy that surrounds the family the moment the book arrives.”
The man entrusted to keep the wheels of Imagination Library turning is David Dotson — CEO of The Dolly Foundation.
He has worked for the superstar philanthropist for the last 20 years and helped roll out the scheme in Scotland in 2011 in conjunction with The Scottish Book Trust and the SNP government.
Now 2,613 kids aged up to five receive books across Scotland every month — but David revealed Dolly is determined to see that number vastly increased.
He explains: “Overall we give away books to 45,000 children in the UK but we want to get it to the 150,000 to 200,000 mark.”
And he explained why Dolly is so interested in helping the children of Scotland.
David, 64, says: “The whole of Tennessee was settled by the Scots and Irish and gave us our culture including our music.
“Dolly always says she finds Scotland and Ireland feels like home. She definitely has a connection.
“So I applaud your effort with Free Books for Schools. Access to books at any age is the key to loving to read and loving to learn.
“I think most of us have a clear memory of reading that one book that opened the door to seek more knowledge.
"This is the philosophy that underlies all book-gifting programmes because in this one moment the right book at the right time alters a life.”
However, when asked about her legacy, Dolly displays the razor-sharp wit loved by her fans.
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She quips: “I hope that 100 years from now people will say two things about me — first, that I had just a little bit to do with making the world a better place.
“And, ‘Dang, she looks good for her age!’”
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