MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — The Blount County Commission is expected to vote this week on a proclamation recognizing the life, faith and lasting legacy of East Tennessee icon Dolly Parton.
The proposed proclamation praises Parton’s impact on her home region and her worldwide influence as an entertainer, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
According to the measure, Parton “carried the character, faith, humor, kindness and spirit of our region with her throughout an extraordinary life and career, never forgetting the people or the place she called home.”
The proclamation highlights her accomplishments as a singer, songwriter, actress, author, businesswoman and philanthropist, noting that she became one of Tennessee’s most beloved citizens and one of East Tennessee’s greatest ambassadors.
While Parton’s music career brought her international fame, local leaders also pointed to her decades of charitable work and commitment to helping others.
Among her most notable contributions is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a literacy program she launched three decades ago. The organization has distributed more than 300 million free books to children worldwide, helping encourage early childhood reading and education.
The proclamation also recognizes Parton’s willingness to support East Tennessee communities during times of crisis.
Following the devastating 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires, Parton helped fund recovery efforts for families affected by the disaster. She also provided assistance after the catastrophic flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene in 2024, which claimed lives and caused widespread destruction across the region.
Those efforts further cemented Parton’s reputation as a hometown advocate who consistently used her influence and resources to help people in need.
The proposed recognition comes just weeks after the announcement of Parton’s death on August 25, 2026. Since then, tributes have poured in from across Tennessee and around the world, honoring both her entertainment career and her lifelong commitment to philanthropy.
If approved, the proclamation will formally recognize the profound impact Parton had on Blount County, East Tennessee and communities far beyond the mountains she always called home.
The Blount County Commission is scheduled to consider the proclamation during its Sept. 17 meeting.
