Dolly Parton’s legacy. Jazz Festival on stage and airshow in the sky. Juvenile Hall’s new mural.

Sloan Campi here, working 9 to 5—literally, but humming the song in my head. 

Beloved music and rhinestone queen Dolly Parton died exactly one month ago today. Unofficially, Sept. 25 was already a nod to her song “9 to 5” because it can be written 9/25. 

That became official in the state of California after Senators Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, and John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, announced that the date is recognized as Dolly Parton Day in California. Both senators co-authored Senate Bill 931, which Gov. Gavin Newsom later signed into law.

That’s also not a typo you’re reading: A Republican and Democrat came together on the State Senate floor to co-author the bill. Though it doesn’t have much in terms of fiscal or policy change, it’s still refreshing to see both sides of the aisle agree on something. It’s testament to the unifying power that Parton had over everyone. The New York Times captured that power in 2019, running a headline that says, “Is There One Thing We Can All Agree On? Yes: Dolly Parton.”

What is more important than pomp and circumstance of proclamations by senators is what Parton actually did with her life. Not only did she make award-winning music that even a non-fan of contemporary country twang like myself would get up and dance to, she championed children through decades of philanthropic work. 

The most notable of that philanthropy came in the form of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which has gifted more than 330 million books to 3.2 million children for free worldwide. Parton’s message is simple for why she did this, stating in a letter on her website: “Inspiring kids to love to read became my mission.”

Monterey County kids are part of that 3.2 million as of June 2026, when Monterey County officially launched the program for kids locally. Since then, First 5 Monterey County announced on Sept. 18 that more than 15 percent of Monterey County children are already participating in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library—which represents over 3,800 local children who receive a brand new book in the mail each month in Spanish or English.

Despite this wonderful legacy that Parton left behind, I still feel a profound sadness that she is no longer present on this Earth. A month later, the celebration of her life continues with an event called Dolly After Dark at SALT House Vintage. All are welcome, even if the only rhinestones you wear are tears in your eyes.