It’s been exactly one month since the death of beloved country star Dolly Parton, and her fans are taking the day on Friday to celebrate her life.
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Celebrations for Dolly Parton Day — held on Sept. 25, in honor of Parton’s song “9 to 5” — have been popping up across the country, from her hometown of Nashville to California to New York City. Here are some of the ways that fans are celebrating the day.
Happy #9to5day ✨ pic.twitter.com/jVeuFDKPo0
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) September 25, 2026
How Dolly Parton’s hometown of Nashville is celebrating
Nashville was home to Parton since she was 18 years old, according to The Associated Press, and the city will be showing her its love on Friday.
The city will be giving away free buttons and stickers throughout the day, and will host a fireworks display at 9:25 p.m., among other events, per USA Today. At Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, there will be a free screening of “9 to 5” on Friday, and a special exhibit about Parton’s life is on display until Oct. 4.
Nashville is already in the process of renaming its airport after Parton, as the Deseret News previously reported.
But Nashville isn’t the only part of the Volunteer State that is celebrating Parton. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced that he is proclaiming Friday “Dolly Parton 9 to 5 Day,” writing that Parton’s “life and legacy were deeply rooted in the mountains of East Tennessee, where her extraordinary talent, determination and imagination first took shape.”
From the mountains of East Tennessee to audiences around the world, Dolly Parton’s talent, generosity, and love for our state have inspired generations. Today, we celebrate her extraordinary legacy and all she has done to make Tennessee proud. pic.twitter.com/YZjaT6Day9
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) September 25, 2026
Lee also wrote that her “contributions to music, entertainment, education, tourism, and charitable service strengthened Tennessee’s reputation as a place of creativity, compassion, and possibility.”
Tennessee already celebrated a Dolly Parton Day on Jan. 19 of this year, in honor of Parton’s 80th birthday.
Other states and cities celebrating Dolly Parton Day
Outside of Tennessee, plenty of other cities and states across the U.S. have been jumping in on Dolly Parton Day celebrations.
Two states, California and Ohio, have both declared Friday as Dolly Parton Day, according to USA Today.
“We could all afford to live a little more like Dolly,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a press release about the day. “Be kind, be humble, and have some fun. … Be a diamond in a rhinestone world.”
Cities with official celebrations on Friday include New Orleans, Manhattan, Lexington, Kentucky, and Portland, Oregon.
How Utah is celebrating Dolly Parton Day
Though Dolly Parton Day is not official in Utah, there are still ways to celebrate across the state.
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At Cornbelly’s locations in Spanish Fork and Lehi, visitors can explore corn mazes that are shaped in tribute to Parton.
Station Park in Farmington is celebrating “Night of 1,000 Dollys” on Friday, where Parton’s music will be played, and guests can participate in a costume contest. It will be followed by a movie screening.
Sandy will be hosting a free outdoor screening of “Steel Magnolias″ at Sandy City Hall on Friday evening. Guests are also encouraged to bring children’s books to donate.
“(Parton) just had a knack for showing up in ways that really meant something to people,” Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski told KSL. “In Sandy, we are a certified kindness city — one kind act a day — so we’re always trying to promote acts of kindness, and she’s such a great example.”
Parton’s nonprofit Imagination Library, which helps provide free books to children around the country, recently partnered with the Utah nonprofit Operation Literacy, as the Deseret News previously reported.
Other ways to celebrate Dolly Parton Day
Parton fans will soon be able to see her back on the big screen, as the film “9 to 5” will be returning to theaters next month, Disney announced on Friday.
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The 1980 film starred Parton alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.
“9 to 5″ will be in theaters from Oct. 9-15, and all U.S. ticket sales will be donated to The Dollywood Foundation to support the Imagination Library.
Meanwhile, the Imagination Library is encouraging fans who are in a position to do so to make a donation to the nonprofit program on Dolly Parton Day — or “Give Like Dolly Day.”
“Dolly Parton believed in giving back and helping children dream bigger — and this year, we’re celebrating that spirit,” Imagination Library posted on social media.
Give Like Dolly Day is coming September 25!
Dolly Parton believed in giving back and helping children dream bigger—and this year, we’re celebrating that spirit through Give Like Dolly Day.
On September 25, we’re inviting communities all over the world to join us in giving back… pic.twitter.com/SLTh75SgAk
— Imagination Library (@dollyslibrary) September 15, 2026
More than 3 million children from birth to age 5 are currently registered for the Imagination Library, which distributes over 3 million books each month and has provided over 300 million books since its launch, the Deseret News previously reported.
“For Dolly, giving was always personal and from her heart,” said Jeff Conyers, president of The Dollywood Foundation, in a statement, per The Associated Press. “She believed deeply in helping people, especially children, and she always felt if you are in a position to help, you should help.”