Manhattan will celebrate Dolly Parton Appreciation Day on September 25, with Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal proclaiming the date in recognition of the country music icon’s contributions to music, culture and philanthropy. The date was selected in honor of “9 to 5,” one of Parton’s signature songs and the title track from the 1980 film in which she starred.
The proclamation recognizes a career that carried Parton from her Tennessee upbringing to worldwide fame through songwriting, recording, film and television. Her catalogue became part of the foundation of modern country music, while her unmistakable voice, humour and songwriting gave her a cultural reach extending far beyond the genre.
The Manhattan recognition also puts Parton’s philanthropy alongside her musical achievements. Through the Imagination Library, she helped provide free books to children around the world, turning an initiative launched in Tennessee into one of the most visible literacy programs associated with any entertainer.
Hoylman-Sigal highlighted both sides of Parton’s legacy, pointing to her generational songs alongside her work supporting literacy and public health. He said the Imagination Library had distributed more than 300 million free books to three million children globally, while also noting Parton’s financial support for COVID-19 vaccine research.
“On behalf of 1.6 million Manhattanites, I’m proud to proclaim September 25, 2026, Dolly Parton Appreciation Day,” Hoylman-Sigal said, calling the recognition a tribute to her contributions to music, culture and humanity.
The Manhattan proclamation is part of a wider series of tributes planned for September 25 following Parton’s death on August 25 after a brief battle with cancer. Cities, counties and states across the United States are recognizing her on the date, including efforts by California lawmakers to establish an official state recognition.
Nashville will also participate. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood’s Friends in Low Places entertainment complex plans to donate 100 percent of its September 25 proceeds to Parton’s Imagination Library, connecting the day directly to one of the causes that became central to her life outside music.
The Manhattan proclamation adds another major American community to a growing national remembrance of Parton. Choosing September 25 as Dolly Parton Appreciation Day gives “9 to 5” a new symbolic meaning while celebrating the songs, generosity and extraordinary cultural legacy she left behind.