The world lost a country music legend last week, but here in Brevard County, Dolly Parton leaves behind something that can still be found in thousands of local homes: books.

Dolly Parton died Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80. Her family announced her death, saying the singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist died peacefully in Nashville. Parton was one of the most successful and recognizable country music performers of all time, with a career that stretched nearly six decades and included classics such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.”

While Parton will be remembered around the world for her music, her connection to Brevard County can be found through one of the causes closest to her heart: childhood literacy.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Brevard County

The Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County is the local program partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that provides free books to young children.

The concept is simple: participating children receive an age-appropriate book delivered directly to their home every month from birth until age 5. Families do not have to meet an income requirement to participate.

The Brevard program launched in 2024 with the goal of making the program available to children throughout the county. At the time, Brevard had approximately 27,000 children under the age of 5, and organizers initially estimated that between 4,000 and 6,000 children could participate during the program’s first year.

The response has been significant.

According to the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County, more than 70,000 books were delivered to Brevard County children during the past year through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Following Parton’s death, the organization shared a tribute explaining just how much her idea has meant locally.

“In 1995, Dolly Parton started mailing books to children in her home county to inspire children to love reading in honor of her dad, who couldn’t read or write,” the organization wrote. “That idea lives here too.”

The Coalition noted that the books reaching Brevard families are made possible through local donors, sponsors and volunteers working alongside the larger Imagination Library program.

An Idea That Started With Her Father

Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 in her home county in Tennessee. The inspiration was personal.

Her father, Robert Lee Parton, could not read or write, something Dolly said affected her deeply. What started as an effort to help children in one Tennessee community eventually became an international literacy program.

More than 300 million free books have now been distributed through the Imagination Library around the world.

And that worldwide legacy now includes Brevard County.

Alan Bergman, board chairman of the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County, said Parton understood that putting a book into a child’s hands could open a door to imagination and create an opportunity for parents and children to spend time reading together.

“Dolly understood something profound: you don’t have to be wealthy to give a child a dream,” Bergman said in the Coalition’s tribute. “Sometimes you can begin with a book.”

Brevard County Remembers Dolly

Her death is already inspiring local residents and businesses to help continue that mission.

Just days after Parton’s passing, Take A Whisk Bakehouse in Titusville partnered with the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County for a special fundraiser. The bakery offered a limited-edition “Coat of Many Colors” cinnamon roll, with $1 from each one sold going toward the local Imagination Library program.

The fundraiser was designed not simply to mourn Parton, but to help put additional books into the hands of Brevard County children.

Across Florida, Parton is also being officially remembered. Flags at state and local government buildings were ordered to fly at half-staff through sunset September 1 in her honor.

For generations of fans, Dolly Parton will always be the unmistakable voice behind some of country music’s greatest songs.

For thousands of children here on the Space Coast, however, her legacy may be something much simpler.

It is a book arriving in the mailbox.

It is a parent sitting down to read with a child.

And it is a love of reading that could remain with that child long after the final book arrives.

That may ultimately be one of Dolly Parton’s greatest legacies — and it is a legacy that will continue right here in Brevard County.