First Lady DeWine Honors Dolly Parton, and Welcomes Trisha Yearwood
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – While honoring the late Dolly Parton, Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine highlighted the strength of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio with country music icon Trisha Yearwood at the 2026 First Lady’s Luncheon.
Proceeds from the First Lady’s Luncheon will support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, which currently serves more than 432,000 Ohio children every month with a free book in the mail. First Lady DeWine has championed the program since 2019, when she started working to make the program available to all Ohio children from birth to age five.
“Dolly Parton had the brilliant idea to put books into the hands of kids, and I’m so proud of the work we’ve all done together in Ohio to expand the Imagination Library to all 88 counties,” said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine. “We know our effort is helping young Ohioans in so many ways, including helping them get ready for kindergarten, which is something we all want.”
First Lady DeWine shared the strength of Dolly's Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio, which has gifted more than 28 million books to Ohio children since 2019. Widespread support has come from the Ohio General Assembly, nonprofit and community partners in every county, Ohio business leaders, and individual supporters.
While Ohio’s enrollment represents 65% of eligible children in the state, it also represents the largest Imagination Library program in the country with 432,249 children receiving a book this month. In addition, parents of more than 88,000 Ohio newborns have signed their children up for the Imagination Library before leaving the hospital since the enrollment option was added to the state’s birth certificate paperwork last August.
Before singing her hit "She's in Love with the Boy" and Parton's "Jolene," Yearwood, a Grammy-award winning country music icon, author, and beloved cooking show host, talked with First Lady DeWine about their mutual love and respect for Dolly Parton.
"The work First Lady of Ohio Fran DeWine has done to champion the Imagination Library is the best way I can think of to carry on Dolly’s legacy," said Yearwood. "Dolly will live forever because of programs like these."
Earlier this week, Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel issued a proclamation declaring September 25 as Dolly Parton Day in Ohio, a nod to Dolly’s popular song, "9 to 5." The proclamation celebrates Dolly Parton’s life, legacy, and generosity.
Similarly, Trisha Yearwood and her husband, Garth Brooks, have announced September 25 as Dolly Day at their Nashville restaurant, with proceeds supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Ohio parents can sign up for free books in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio program at OhioImaginationLibrary.org.
Organized in 2021, the Ohio First Lady’s Charitable Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on raising awareness and financial support for the First Lady of Ohio’s philanthropic endeavors. Previous First Lady's Luncheons, hosted by the Ohio First Lady’s Charitable Foundation, featured country musician Zac Brown in 2025 and country music superstar Luke Bryan in 2023. The first First Lady’s Luncheon in 2022 featured the legendary Dolly Parton.
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