Dolly Parton’s East Tennessee hometown is making September 25 a day to remember her every year.
Sevier County, along with the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and the Town of Pittman Center, will jointly proclaim September 25 as Dolly Parton Day, honoring the life and legacy of one of the Smoky Mountains’ most famous daughters.
The date — 9/25 — is a fitting nod to “9 to 5,” one of Parton’s most recognizable songs and the title track from the 1980 film in which she starred.
Beginning this year, Dolly Parton Day will be observed annually throughout Sevier County, where Parton was born and raised before becoming one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world.
A public signing ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, September 25, on the steps of the historic Sevier County Courthouse in Sevierville. Leaders from the county and participating municipalities will gather to formally sign the joint proclamation.
The proclamation recognizes not only Parton’s career in music, entertainment and business, but also the impact she had on the community she continued to call home. Her work through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, support for pediatric healthcare and assistance to families following the devastating 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires are among the contributions being recognized.
Parton’s influence is also inseparable from Sevier County’s growth as a tourism destination, most visibly through Dollywood in Pigeon Forge.
Residents, businesses, schools, organizations and visitors are being encouraged to mark Dolly Parton Day in their own way — while carrying forward the values she represented throughout her life: dreaming big, working hard, caring for others, giving generously and remembering where you came from.
Dolly Parton Day will be observed annually in Sevier County on September 25.
