Today is officially Dolly Parton Day in California and in dozens of cities across the United States. The date’s significance should be obvious to anyone who knows her work: 9-2-5 references “9 to 5,” the hit single from the 1980 film of the same name, in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB931 into law on Sept. 20, making Sept. 25 the state’s official Dolly Parton Day. The bill was co-authored by Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) and Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield).
“We could all afford to live a little more like Dolly,” Newsom said in a statement. “Be kind, be humble, and have some fun… 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.”
The Bill’s Own Words
The full text of SB931 lists the reasons lawmakers gave for honoring Parton. The excerpts describe her career, her charity work, and her political stances in order:
- Her music and philanthropy, including the Imagination Library that sends books to children worldwide.
- Her faith, optimism, and humility.
- Her advocacy for equality and her support for the LGBTQ+ community.
- Her investment of $10 million from Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” cover into a historically Black neighborhood in Nashville.
- The Imagination Library’s expansion from Sevier County, Tennessee to children around the globe.
- The conclusion that California should recognize her contributions to literacy and humanity.
Laird praised the bill in a statement. “Her legacy goes well beyond her music,” he said. “Now, every 9-2-5, California gets to celebrate Dolly and the remarkable legacy she shared with all of us.”
The Bill’s Number
The irony of SB931 is that the bill’s number does not match the date it celebrates. The source notes that SB925 was already taken, which would have made more sense given the date’s reference to the song.
Other Cities Have Already Declared It
California is not the only place marking the date. Tennessee, Parton’s home state, already recognizes Jan. 19 — her birthday — as Dolly Parton Day.
But cities and local governments across Tennessee have separately declared Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day, including Nashville, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. In early September, Manhattan borough president Brad Hoylman-Sigal declared Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Appreciation Day.
Other cities and counties recognizing the day include Portland, Oregon and two Texas counties — Hays County and Montgomery County.
What the Day Commemorates
The date itself comes from a song that changed Parton’s career. “9 to 5” was her first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, her first Oscar nominee for best original song, and a double Grammy winner (best country song and best country vocal performance, female).
The song’s meaning goes beyond the record. It came from a movie about women working against a boss, and it became a statement about standing up for yourself. That message is why the date stuck.
| Achievement | Award |
|---|---|
| First No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 | — |
| First Oscar nomination for best original song | — |
| Grammy for best country song | — |
| Grammy for best country vocal performance, female | — |
Celebrations Across the Country
Cities are holding events to honor Parton today. Celebrations will be held in Nashville, San Francisco and New Orleans, among other cities.
The date also honors the work she did outside the studio. The Imagination Library has sent millions of free books to children from birth to five years old, regardless of family income. That program began in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Parton grew up, and it expanded globally.
Parton’s approach to her work was consistent. She believed in reading, in music, and in giving back. The bill’s language reflects that. It cites her faith, her advocacy for equality, and her support for the LGBTQ+ community. It also notes her deep connection to the African American community and her decision to invest the $10 million from the “I Will Always Love You” cover into a historically Black neighborhood in Nashville.
The Least Controversial Bill He’ll Ever Sign
Newsom’s statement about the bill is notable for its warmth. He framed the proclamation as a reminder to live with joy, grace, and heart.
The irony is that a bill named after a hit song that nobody bothered to match numerically is exactly the kind of thing Parton herself might have laughed at.
The celebration is a genuine tribute to a performer who shaped American popular culture for decades. Parton’s music spoke to millions, and her charity work reached millions more. The day is a chance to remember both.
The date’s odd numbering is a small joke, but it is also a tribute to the way Parton operated. She did not take herself too seriously, and neither did the bill that named her day.
The day is a gift to fans and a reminder to everyone else. Be kind, be humble, and have some fun. That is not a bad way to live.
Source material: “Today Is Dolly Parton Day – It’s 9/25,” Billboard.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.