The city is celebrating Dolly Parton and her legacy in “9 to 5” style.
Sept. 25 will be Dolly Parton Appreciation Day across Manhattan, Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal proclaimed Wednesday.
News of the late musician’s death struck New Yorkers. Parton garnered a reputation as an LGBTQ+ rights icon and champion of child literacy. She also contributed funding to research that helped develop Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Although Parton was not a permanent New York resident, the MTA had previously used her likeness on limited-edition MetroCards and lookalike contests were common fixtures at some local establishments.
Manhattan’s designation comes after the Empire State Building sparkled in pink last week and bars and clubs held tributes in her honor over the weekend.
Even the mayor weighed in on the news, calling her death “truly heartbreaking.”
“Dolly Parton was an extraordinary person and an irreplaceable champion of the working class. We are a better country because of her,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said last week.
Hoylman-Sigal said his proclamation celebrates Parton’s “extraordinary life, legacy and lasting contributions.”
“On behalf of 1.6 million Manhattanites, I’m proud to proclaim Sept. 25, 2026 Dolly Parton Appreciation Day, in honor of her timeless contributions to music, culture and humanity,” Hoylman-Sigal said Wednesday. “We will always love you.”