Blackburn, Colleagues Lead Passage of Resolution Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dolly Parton

Blackburn, Colleagues Lead Passage of Resolution Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dolly Parton September 18, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led passage of a resolution to honor the life and legacy of country music legend Dolly Parton, whose extraordinary contributions to music, philanthropy, literacy, education, health, conservation, and culture enriched the lives of countless Americans. Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) introduced a companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Dolly Parton was a Tennessee treasure who lived out the Volunteer Spirit, loved our nation, and opened doors of opportunity for countless people,” said Senator Blackburn . “While there are no words to fully express the sorrow all Tennesseans feel in her loss, I hope this resolution plays at least a small part in ensuring that her legacy is never forgotten, and I am honored to lead it in the Senate.” “Dolly is truly a Tennessee legend,” said Senator Hagerty. “From her humble beginnings in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains to worldwide fame, Dolly exemplified the American Dream. Whether she was performing on stages across the globe, creating opportunities for families to make memories in Dollywood, or fostering a love of reading through her Imagination Library, Dolly lived a life dedicated to encouraging others to dream just as boldly as she did. She never forgot where she came from and left an indelible cultural and economic impact on our state. She will be very dearly missed.” “Dolly Parton was a legend, an icon, and an inspiration. Las Vegans and visitors enjoyed her shows for close to half a century, and books from her Imagination Library line the bookshelves of countless Nevada children,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Today, we stand together to honor her contributions to American music, her lifetime of generosity and service, and her embrace of all people.” “I'm grateful to Senator Blackburn for leading this resolution in the Senate so that Dolly's story, a woman whose humble beginnings in a two-room cabin in Sevier County taught her to hold onto her faith, her family, and her home, gets the full recognition of Congress,” said Representative Harshbarger. “She spent her whole life giving back to the place that raised her, and now it's our turn to make sure she's remembered the way she deserves.” This legislation is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Martin Heinrich (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.). BACKGROUND Dolly Parton built an extraordinary career in Nashville as a gifted performer and songwriter, yet she never forgot her East Tennessee roots or her commitment to giving back. In 1986 she opened Dollywood in the Great Smoky Mountains, creating jobs and boosting the local economy. Soon after, she launched the Dollywood Foundation to combat high school dropout rates in Sevier County; it later grew into Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, delivering free books to millions of children across Tennessee, the United States, and the world. A true trailblazer, Dolly Parton transformed country music while her lifelong spirit of service and love for Tennessee have uplifted generations and left a lasting mark far beyond the stage. Click here for resolution text. https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/9/blackburn-colleagues-lead-passage-of-resolution-honoring-the-life-and-legacy-of-dolly-parton