08/25/2026
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dolly Parton today.
I had the great honor of meeting Dolly and introducing her, and it is a memory I will always cherish. She was every bit as warm, gracious, genuine, and inspiring as you would imagine.
But Dolly's legacy reaches far beyond her extraordinary music and career. She believed deeply in children, literacy, and the power of a book to open a child's imagination and change the trajectory of a life.
It was one of the great honors of my public service to help establish Dolly Parton's Imagination Library statewide in Washington and to advocate for this amazing program. Knowing that children and families across our state will continue receiving books and discovering the joy of reading is a powerful part of Dolly's legacy.
Dolly Parton used her remarkable success to lift others up. She brought joy to millions, but just as importantly, she created opportunities for generations of children she would never meet.
I feel incredibly fortunate that I had the opportunity to meet her, to support a cause so close to her heart, and to play a small role in helping carry her vision forward here in Washington through the Imagination Library of Washington
An amazing program. An extraordinary legacy. And a truly remarkable woman.
Rest in peace, Dolly. You will be deeply missed, but the music, the memories, and the millions of young readers you inspired will live on. ❤️📚