Dolly Parton, the global country music icon who died at the age of 80, had a surprising connection to Rotherham, South Yorkshire, that few people knew about. In 2007, she developed a deep affection for the town after bringing her book-gifting programme, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, to the area.
A heart spot for Rotherham
In a BBC Sounds clip, Parton explained why the town resonated with her: 'It's out in an area where there's lots of hard-working people, poor people, and I totally related to Rotherham. I'm so glad that we started there because that was really more of a heart spot for me because I related to the people.'
She even joked about the possibility of relocating: 'I know that's out in an industrial area. They were making fun of me for going out there, and I thought do you know what, don't make fun of me I was even looking for a little apartment. I thought when I go that would be a great place for me to go and hide out. So you never know, you may be walking down the streets of Rotherham and see me.'
Books for every child
Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995, providing children in her home county with a free book every month from birth until they turned five. She grew up in poverty as one of 12 children, where work on the farm often took priority over education.
After the project became an international programme, Parton visited Rotherham to hand books directly to young children and encourage families to read together. She had previously spoken about her father, who could not read or write, and her determination to give children access to the opportunities literacy provides.
A global reach
The scheme has reached thousands of young readers, from remote communities in Alaska to children in Nottingham and other parts of the UK. Parton said the books were a way of giving children a head start in life following her own childhood.
Her 2007 visit to Rotherham showed how far her passion for children's reading had travelled, marking an unlikely but meaningful chapter in the life of one of America's most famous singers.
