Sept. 25 is officially Dolly Parton Day in California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation establishing the annual observance, choosing the date because its numerical form — 9/25 — echoes Parton’s iconic song and film “9 to 5.” Ohio and counties in Tennessee and Texas have also designated Sept. 25 to honor the country music legend.
Parton, the “Queen of Country” and philanthropist, died in August at age 80, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the music world and beyond.
“We could all afford to live a little more like Dolly,” Newsom said, describing the day as an annual reminder “to live the way she did — joyfully, graciously, and with a whole lot of heart.”
Beyond her music career spanning six decades, Parton was celebrated for her philanthropy, including the Imagination Library, which mails a free book each month to children under five. The program expanded statewide in California in 2023, making every young child in the state eligible.
The bill was authored by state senators Shannon Grove and John Laird.