Dolly Parton, American singer, songwriter, actress and champion of children’s literacy philanthropy passed away on Tuesday. Parton leaves behind a legacy of kindness and generosity, and her influence extends to families across Illinois.
Parton made her Illinois debut in 1968 at the Champaign County Fair with the Porter Wagoner Show.
In 1974, Parton returned to Illinois where she played at the McLean County Fair after departing the Porter Wagoner Show. Her performance at the fair is widely recognized as her first show as a solo artist and the catalyst to her roaring success as a solo artist in the years to follow. A few years later in 1978, she headlined the Illinois State Fair alongside other powerhouse artists such as the Beach Boys, Kenny Rodgers and the Osmonds’ Donny and Marie Show.
Parton performed at shows throughout the state, including several county fairs and a headline concert at the Braden Auditorium on the Illinois State University campus in 1992.
Parton’s bandmates have connections to Illinois as well.
Parton’s longtime guitarist and general manager of Dolly Parton Enterprises, Tom Rutledge, is a Springfield native. Rutledge moved to Nashville in the 1970s to pursue a career in country music. Shortly after arriving, Rutledge met Parton and was hired to be her guitarist in her first band on the road. Rutledge continued to play shows with Parton throughout her tenure.
Parton’s music career was nothing short of legendary – but her accolades reach past the microphone.
In 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was launched, a program that mails free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five. The program started in Sevier County, Tennessee where Parton grew up and was such a success that the program expanded nationwide. By 2003, the program had mailed one million books to children across the country and later expanded globally in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the Republic of Ireland.
In the 2020 documentary, “The Library That Dolly Built,” Parton shared that her father could not read or write, describing it as detrimental to his success. She went on to say that the library is the program she is most proud to be a part of. In a 2019 interview, Parton shared that she wanted to be remembered as “the book lady” rather than a country music star.
The Imagination Library of Illinois first charted in 2005. As of April 2026, the Imagination Library is available in 93 of Illinois’ 102 counties, with over 100,000 children in the state currently receiving books. Over five million books have been delivered to children in Illinois.
Parton’s legacy lives on in the music she produced and the philanthropic work she did. Fans of all ages will remember her for her southern twang, unconditional empathy and her commitment to always stay true to herself.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will continue operations after her passing. Families can enroll their children in Illinois program here.
