Alabama fans rally for Dolly Parton license plate after her death

Dolly Parton's life work of delivering books directly into the hands of kids has sparked a massive wave of support in Alabama since her passing. Hundreds of people are now rallying behind a special license plate designed to fund her Imagination Library program across the state. The country music legend died Tuesday at age 80. Her career produced timeless hits like "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You." But she built something even bigger through philanthropy, with the Imagination Library standing as one of her signature achievements.

Kaelyn Christian, Alabama state director for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, told Fox News Digital that the proposed plate had roughly 40 commitments when the week began. By Wednesday afternoon, that number surged past 550. That puts the campaign more than halfway toward the 1,000 signatures needed to get the plates into production.

"It's exploded over the last 24 hours really," Christian said.

"It's been amazing," she continued. "If you had asked me last week if I thought we would make a thousand, I would have said I'm not sure. But now I'm really confident I think that we'll hit that 1,000 mark."

Christian explained that about $50 from each plate goes back to the Imagination Library program in the Alabama county where the vehicle is registered. Drivers pay the fee annually. This creates an ongoing source of support for local programs and offers an easy way to almost set up a recurring donation to your local Imagination Library, she said.

Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995 to honor her father, who never had the chance to learn how to read or write. Children enrolled from birth receive a free book every month until they turn five. They can get as many as 60 books total. Since starting the program, more than 300 million books have been shared globally.

Christian noted that about 114,000 Alabama children are currently enrolled. Registrations also went crazy in the last 24 hours. She said the money from one specialty plate covers the cost of providing books to two children every month for almost two years. That equals roughly 48 books.

Beyond the statistics, Christian pointed out that Parton's legacy lives on through kids who grow up excited to find a new book in their mailbox each month. Her own son, who is nearly five, participates in the program. "He just loves the books that we get every month," Christian said. "He talks about them all the time. And he talks about 'Ms. Dolly sent me another book.'"

Christian also recalled speaking with a mother eager to commit to the license plate because her children were nearing graduation from the program. She wanted to help provide the same experience for another child. The initiative can have a lasting impact on families who otherwise might not afford books for their kids. Christian heard from one family that told her, "We couldn't afford books for our home, and so we enrolled in this program."

"Now my middle school child reads 200 books a year," the parent told her, according to Christian.

"It just really is the gift that keeps on giving for children," Christian said. The full point of the program is to inspire a love of reading.

That's what we want."

Christian stressed that this specialty plate does more than just honor Parton. The recurring funding allows local partners to keep their programs running for years. She calls these groups the "boots on the ground." They find and enroll children, promote the initiative in communities, and raise money to support it. "I think it really gives them the security that they will be able to continue their local program long term," Christian said.

In 2023, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced a statewide expansion of the Imagination Library. By early 2025, coverage reached all 67 counties in Alabama. The state now provides 50% financial support for participating children.