Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed SB 931 into law, officially recognizing Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day in California.
State Sens. Shannon Grove and John Laird chose Sept. 25 as a nod to Parton’s beloved song “9 to 5,” the theme for her most memorable foray into Hollywood. The date falls exactly a month after the legendary country singer-songwriter and actress died on Aug. 25.
Parton sold more than 100 million records over her six-decade career as a singer-songwriter, scoring 25 No. 1 country hits in the process, more than any other female country artist.
As one of the most successful country artists of all time with an acclaimed acting career, Parton endeared herself to fans as much for her work as a dedicated philanthropist and childhood literacy advocate as for her artistry.
“Dolly Parton sparkled on every stage she ever stood on, but her brightest sparkle was the literacy legacy she built through the Imagination Library,” said Grove, who co-authored SB 931 alongside Laird.
She recalled her work with colleagues of both parties to bring the bilingual reading program to California under former Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins.
“The love Dolly gave so freely, rooted in her deep and openly shared faith, and the love the world returned to her, shows how deeply she was cherished by everyone,” Grove wrote in a release after Newsom signed the bill into law.
“I thank Governor Newsom for signing SB 931 so that every September 25th, our state will remember the legend who put millions of books in the hands of our youngest readers and inspired the world on how to respect and love one another.”
After breaking through on the big screen in “9 to 5” in 1980, Parton co-founded Sandollar Productions in Hollywood in 1985. The company went on to produce movies like “Father of the Bride” and television series such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
“We could all afford to live a little more like Dolly,” Newsom said in the release. “Be kind, be humble, and have some fun…Be a diamond in a rhinestone world. With this bill, we are not just establishing a day to celebrate Dolly Parton, we are creating an annual reminder to us, every year, to live the way she did—joyfully, graciously, and with a whole lot of heart.”
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