First Lady Gianforte Celebrates September 25 as “9 to 5” Day in Honor of Dolly Parton

Gov. Gianforte proclaims "Dolly Parton Day"

Governor's Office

HELENA, Mont. - In honor of Dolly Parton and her hit song "9 to 5", First Lady Susan Gianforte celebrated today, September 25, or 9/25, as Nine Two Five Day in Montana to recognize the legacy and impact of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

"Last month, we lost an incredible woman, Dolly Parton, who dedicated her life to inspiring a love of reading in young children," First Lady Susan Gianforte said. "As Montana's First Lady, it's been an honor to help lead and support the Imagination Library of Montana. Since expanding statewide, nearly 31,000 Montana children are receiving free, high-quality, age-appropriate books and playing a role in carrying on Dolly's legacy."

A video from First Lady Susan Gianforte can be viewed here

Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. In June 2023, the first lady joined the Dollywood Foundation in announcing the statewide expansion of Imagination Library in Montana. Through the partnership, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library provides a free book each month to any Montana child, up to age five, who is registered with the organization.

Today, Imagination Library of Montana has 58 local program partners in all 56 counties serving nearly 31,000 children, more than half of the state's eligible children. To date, nearly 1,000,000 books have been mailed in Montana since the program's statewide expansion. A child may be registered at montanaimaginationlibrary.org.

To honor Dolly Parton's recent passing on August 25, 2026, and to recognize her impact and legacy through the Imagination Library Program, Governor Greg Gianforte today proclaimed September 25, 2026, as Dolly Parton Day in Montana.

You can view the governor's proclamation here and below.

WHEREAS, Dolly Parton is remembered as not only a singer, songwriter, and businesswoman, but also as a humanitarian and philanthropist as the founder of Dolly Parton' s Imagination Library; and

WHEREAS, Dolly established the nonprofit in 1995 to honor her father who could not read and to instill the love of reading around the world by mailing free, age-appropriate books to registered children up to five every month; and

WHEREAS, Montana's First Lady Susan Gianforte established the statewide expansion of the Imagination Library of Montana to get free books in the hands of Montana children in all 56 counties; and

WHEREAS, currently, the Imagination Library of Montana serves nearly 31,000 children, over half of the state's eligible children, having mailed nearly 1 million free books to date; and

WHEREAS, Dolly Parton tragically passed away on August 25, 2026, but we will continue to promote her passion for youth literacy and education as a whole; and

WHEREAS, a Montana family can register their child to receive free books each month up to age five at MontanaImaginationLibrary.org;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Greg Gianforte, Governor of the State of Montana, do hereby proclaim September 25, 2026

DOLLY PARTON DAY

in Montana to honor the life, legacy, and generosity of Dolly Parton.

###