Latest news with #CoatofManyColors
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Two years after program went statewide, Washington Legislature does not fund Dolly Parton Imagination Library
May 2—Faced with a budget crunch, Washington state lawmakers opted not to fund a program launched by country music legend Dolly Parton that provides free books once a month to children under 5. Parton started Imagination Library in 1995 in her hometown in Tennessee . It has provided more than 200 million books to children free of charge over the past 30 years. Across the country, more than 2 million children receive books monthly through the Imagination Library. The program currently serves 9,800 kids in Spokane County, and has provided more than 200,000 books to nearly 15,000 kids in the county since it began. As the program expanded statewide in Washington, Parton joined a collection of elected officials for a reception in Tacoma to promote it. The day was hailed as a day of celebration for the state, with a formal proclamation signed by governor declaring Aug. 15 as "Dolly Parton Day." The event included a discussion with the music legend, as well as a performance of her 1971 hit song "Coat of Many Colors." During the event, Parton said the program helps "instill a love for reading and the love for books." "I do other things, but I don't think I'll ever do anything more important or more personal to me than this," Parton said. With the expansion, Washington became the 11th state, and the first on the West Coast, to allow any child to sign up for the program free of charge. Less than two years later, legislators did not include a request for $7 million to help fund the program over the next two years in the operating budget adopted by both the House and Senate over the weekend. "This is a heartbreaking loss to our team, our 46 local Imagination Library partners, and, most importantly, the 121,000 children across Washington, who receive the gift of a free book each month," Brooke Fisher-Clark, executive director of Imagination Library of Washington, said in a statement. According to the Imagination Library of Washington, the program is funded equally through public funds and local Imagination Library partners. Chris Reykdal, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, hosted the on-stage chat with Parton during the 2023 event. In an emailed statement Thursday, Reykdal said the Imagination Library "is an effective and cost-efficient program to engage our youngest learners and their families in reading." "The Legislature unfortunately had to make tough budget choices this session, and I am disappointed that funding for this program was not prioritized," Reykdal said. "Because the program is funded by a 1:1 state and local partner match, a total elimination of state funding has a deep impact." Reykdal said his office is still reviewing what the funding cut means, and how it will impact the children currently enrolled, though he pledged to work with the Legislature to restore the funds. The Dolly Parton Library is also asking the public to donate money to fund the program. Information about how to donate can be found at "With the loss of state funding, our statewide programmatic framework has been altered, and we must now pivot to address this funding challenge. We need the public to rally and help us preserve this impactful program for young children. Please act and contribute now to ensure its survival," Fisher-Clark said in a statement.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Iconic Muscle Shoals musician who worked with Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton dies aged 82
Keyboardist David Briggs has died at the age of 82 in Nashville. Briggs, who made hits with the 20th century biggest starts, including Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton. He is credited with helping popularize country music and making his hometown of Muscle Shoals as hub for the genre. The Alabama native died on April 22 in a hospice facility from complications of renal cancer, as reported by The New York Times. Briggs was an unmissable presence in country music, also working with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. The musician played on legendary R&B singles like Arthur Alexander's You Better Move in in 1962 and Jimmy Hughes' Steal Away in 1964. He also provided accompaniment for Dolly Parton's beloved single, Coat of Many Colors, in 1971. Briggs was a constant presence on stage with Elvis during the last 11 years of his life of the King of Rock's life. The two started working together after Briggs played piano for Elvis' 1966 single Love Letters. Briggs then went on tour with the King and his TCB band. Briggs started his musical career as a teen, playing with the original rhythm section at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. He then spent some time in Nashville, where his career soared as he began working with Elvis, Parton and James Brown. In 1969, he went back to Alabama and founded the iconic studio Quadraphonic Sound with bassist Norbert Putnam. The two also founded a publishing house, Willin' David Music, that went on to produce hits including Whitney Houston's Didn't We Almost Have It All. In the 1970s and 1980s, Briggs wrote and arranged jingles for companies like Coca-Cola and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The musician later opened a studio called House of David in Nashville. He was elected to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and awarded with the Cecil B. Scaife Visionary Award in 2011. In 2019, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. 'David Briggs could play keyboards in any style. For more than four decades, his deft touch graced countless country, R&B, rock, and pop recordings,' said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum., as reported by Fox 54. 'He was eighteen years old when he played piano on Arthur Alexander's epochal Muscle Shoals hit 'You Better Move On.' Recruited to Nashville by producer Owen Bradley, Briggs immediately became a studio fixture, enhancing records by Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and many more. He further shaped Music City in co-founding Quadrafonic Studio and opening his own House of David studio. 'He was a man of music through and through.'
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
4-Year-Old Goes Viral for Carrying Photo of Dolly Parton Everywhere She Goes — and Calling the Star Her 'Best Friend' (Exclusive)
A 4-year-old named Hallie has gained attention on TikTok for her love of Dolly Parton The little girl loves the country icon so much that she usually carries a photo of her wherever she goes Her mom Darian Day tells PEOPLE that the whole family loves Parton thanks to receiving books through her Imagination Library and having family dance parties to her hits A little girl with a big personality is celebrating her love of Dolly Parton. Darian Day, on TikTok @ddayelight, shared a glimpse at what life is like with her 4-year-old. The mom of four tells PEOPLE that while each of her young kids is unique, "Hallie came along and our life became a party!" The Indiana preschooler recently went viral after Day shared with followers that Hallie carries around a photo of Dolly Parton in her pocket every day. When she finally reached a day where her outfit didn't have any pockets, Mom had to get creative. "A couple of months ago, Hallie was having an 'emotional day,' as she calls it, and she was crying because she wanted the real, actual Dolly Parton to be able to come to the store with us," Day tells PEOPLE. "I had the idea to cut out a picture from the sleeve of one of our books so Dolly could go with us. Since then, it's turned into me printing out multiple little pictures of Dolly for her to carry in her pocket or in her purse. It's not rare to look around our house and see a little Dolly in every room now." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: Dolly Parton Says She Had 'So Much Fun' Teaming Up with The Wiggles for Uplifting New Kids Tune 'Friends!' The love of Dolly is strong not just in Hallie, but the whole family. "We are definitely Dolly fans! The charitable work she does and the love she has for children are inspiring and impactful, especially with the Imagination Library. When my oldest was a baby, we signed him up for the Imagination Library and started getting the monthly books. When they'd come in the mail, we'd say, 'Look, we have another book from Dolly!' " she recalls. "So my older kids just assumed Dolly was also like a family friend that sent us books," she adds with a laugh. "It's so funny to think that they thought we were casually friends with a country music superstar legend! I never corrected them either. Oops!" Like her siblings, for Hallie it started with getting excited about books. Then, it moved to the music. "She loves 'Coat of Many Colors.' One of the books from the Imagination Library is an illustrated copy of the lyrics of that song and that's her favorite," Day says, adding, "It just blossomed from there. Now she tells everyone Dolly is her best friend." TikTokers aren't the only ones who love Hallie's dedication to Dolly. "The people that know Hallie have come to expect quirky and silly things like that, and it's always a joy to be surprised by her cuteness," her mom shares. "It's so sweet that Hallie is bringing so much joy to other people, just like she does to our family. There's such a massive public love for Dolly Parton and she has a way of bringing people together. We go through and read the comments, and it warms our hearts to know that Hallie and Dolly brought a smile to a stranger's face." All the recognition for Hallie makes the proud mom even prouder. "My older children are passionate about art, soccer, competitive dance … and those are things I love watching them do. But there's something uniquely special about watching Hallie find so much joy in Dolly Parton," she says. While Day's family hasn't ever gotten the chance to interact with the country icon herself, they hope to one day be able to let her know "the impact that she's had on us all." "From snuggling up together to read one of her books or having dance parties in our kitchen to her music, she brings us together in a way only she could. She's part of our family," Day says. "She inspires Hallie to be loud, bubbly, and completely herself. In this world, girls are taught to be quiet and shrink themselves, but Dolly doesn't do that. She is larger than life, and so is Hallie," Day adds. "I couldn't ask for a better role model for my daughter." Read the original article on People
