Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is serving 7,000 children in Baltimore as the city remembers the singer and philanthropist after her death at 80. Her literacy project remains active locally, with support from Enoch Pratt Free Library, as noted by Baltimore Chronicle. The development was first reported by WMAR-2 News. Parton’s official website confirms she died in Nashville on August 25, 2026.
7,000 Baltimore children receive books
The program sends books to registered children and helps families build home libraries. Its national model provides age-appropriate books each month from birth until age 5.
Liz Sundermann-Zinger of Enoch Pratt Library told WMAR that access to books at home can encourage reading from an early age.
For Baltimore families, Parton’s legacy is therefore measured not only in songs, but also in books arriving at children’s homes.
The local program currently reaches:
- 7,000 children across Baltimore;
- families building personal libraries at home;
- children during their earliest years of reading;
- several generations familiar with the Imagination Library.
The project has become part of Baltimore’s broader literacy work. Families who once received books are now registering younger relatives, according to library officials.
Dolly Parton’s Baltimore connections remain visible
Parton also had direct ties to the region. She visited the area in 1978 and 1989. A sculpture honoring her stands at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia.
Her Baltimore-area legacy now spans music, public art and childhood literacy.
| Baltimore connection | Detail |
|---|---|
| Imagination Library | 7,000 local children receive books |
| Enoch Pratt Library | Supports the literacy program |
| Merriweather Post Pavilion | Site of a Dolly Parton sculpture |
| Baltimore Symphony Orchestra | Plans a 2027 tribute performance |
The different projects show how Parton’s influence extended beyond her recording career. Her philanthropic work remains especially visible through children who continue receiving books.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will proceed with Dolly Parton tribute
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra still lists Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs In Symphony for May 5, 2027, at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The multimedia program combines orchestral arrangements, guest singers and recordings of Parton.
“This performance will carry even greater meaning for audiences,” the orchestra said after Parton’s death.
The concert will feature songs including “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” It now takes on the character of a memorial as Baltimore continues to assess Parton’s cultural and philanthropic legacy.
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