Acknowledging the Remarkable Life of Dolly Parton

That the Parliament notes with profound sadness the death of  Dolly Parton, the "Queen of Country", at the age of 80; celebrates an extraordinary singer, songwriter, actor, businesswoman and philanthropist whose seven-decade career was distinguished by a remarkable talent, a formidable work ethic and a determination to succeed on her own terms; recognises that, after singing on local radio and television at the age of 10 and appearing at the Grand Ole Opry at 13, she went on to release her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967 and build an enduring catalogue that included Coat of Many Colors, My Tennessee Mountain Home, Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You; considers that her independence, business acumen and songs about women’s experiences challenged stereotypes, advanced a message of equality and established her as a feminist icon who inspired generations; recognises that her legacy extends far beyond entertainment, particularly through her Imagination Library, which she established in 1995 in tribute to her father, Robert Lee Parton, whose inability to read and write, despite being, in her words, “the smartest man I have ever known”, might have prevented him from fulfilling all of his dreams; understands that the programme, launched in the UK in 2007, provided enrolled children with a free, carefully selected, high quality book each month from birth until their fifth birthday and has gifted more than 300 million books internationally; celebrates its impact in Renfrewshire, the first Scottish local authority area to offer it universally to children aged two to five, where more than 230,000 books have been distributed, supporting literacy, a love of reading and shared stories between children and their parents and carers; welcomes the establishment of 25 September as an annual Dolly Parton Day in Renfrewshire in recognition of the programme’s contribution to local children and families; pays tribute to Dolly's creativity, compassion, courage and purpose, and believes that her music, philanthropy and example will continue to inspire generations to, in her own words, “find out who you are and do it on purpose”.