Dolly Parton, the beloved pop country star, died at the age of 80 yesterday.

Her career spanned decades with hits like Jolene and I Will Always Love You.

Born in Tennessee, she rose from humble beginnings to become a music and film icon.

Our June Lefler has more on her philanthropic and cultural impact on Kentucky.

Because I've always been a dreamer and dreams are special things, but dreams are of no value if they're not equipped with wings.

Dolly Parton performed at Lexington's Lyric Theater in 2024, where she was welcomed by Governor Andy Beshear and Brittney Beshear.

And I believe it's time for Dolly Parton to become our newest Kentucky colonel.

In less than that day, Parton and Kentucky celebrated the statewide expansion of her reading program, the Imagination Library.

So my daddy couldn't read and write, and he was always real embarrassed about that.

But daddy helped me so much in getting the program going, and he loved it when the kids called me the book lady.

In fact, he would rather that than I was a country star.

The Tennessee girl said she felt akin to the children of Appalachia, like those in West Virginia and Kentucky.

Today, her program has delivered 6 million books to Kentucky kids under age five.

Of course, Kentuckians are remembering her music.

She did win ten Grammys.

The Kentucky State Fair shared photos from her performance in 1978.

Earlier this year, Louisville's orchestra performed a dozen of her songs as part of a worldwide show with touring vocalists.

But the show was incredibly immersive, and she's on screen in this show.

About a third of the time talking about her process, why she wrote certain songs, why she did certain things.

So it was it was it was deep.

She wrote, hopefully people can see beneath the hair to know that there's a brain beneath the boobs, to know that there's a heart.

And behind all the other stuff, to know that there's some talent.

Everything was about her, was purposeful, and she had nothing.

The set included her pop hits and early songs, including the Bridge, about an unplanned pregnancy turned tragedy, how Porter Wagner didn't want her to sing a certain song, and she sang it because it was important, she says, I don't know.

I don't know what all the fuss is about.

This is what people's lives are like.

This is what people go through.

Owensboro Bluegrass Hall of Fame shared these lesser known photos of Parton, including her recording of the album The Grass Is Blue.

The museum wrote, quote, her voice may be gone, but the song she carried from the mountains and the musical legacy she helped preserve and expand will endure for generations to come.

We had no money, but I was rich as I could be in my coat of many colors momma made for me cause she made it just for me.

For Kentucky edition I'm Julia.

Thank you.