Image Credit: Imagination Library & Facebook pages of Cameron Sexton & Bo Watson.
Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Chairman Bo Watson have pledged to fully fund Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library statewide, proposing to cover local costs by committing state funds as part of the 2027 budget.
“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is one of Tennessee’s greatest gifts to the next generation,” Sexton said in a Sept. 1 press release. “What started in Tennessee is now in all 50 states. Millions of children have been inspired and discovered a love of reading because of Dolly. There is no better way to honor her extraordinary legacy than to ensure every single Tennessee child, in every county and in every community, continues to have access to the Imagination Library for generations to come.”
Watson added, “Doing whatever is necessary to improve early literacy has always been a top priority of mine. Dolly Parton has always been a pioneer in the movement to improve children’s lives through books and reading, and she has left a lasting legacy on the country. We are honored to continue the work she started through her Imagination Library.”
Parton established the Imagination Library in 1995 in Sevier County, and the program has since sent over 330 million books worldwide, with just over 3 million children a month receiving books. And as of 2025, nearly 70% of Tennessee children are enrolled in the program.
Tennessee expanded the Imagination Library statewide in 2004 through the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) and already covers 50% of the costs, with the remaining 50% covered by local governments, program partners, and fundraising.
Now, Sexton and Watson say, “Thanks to our state’s balanced budget and commitment to fiscal responsibility, Tennessee has the funds to pay for the entire program. Tennessee Republicans can continue investing in opportunities that help every child succeed, regardless of their zip code of financial circumstances.”
One example of how the state shouldering the cost would relieve local government burden is in Montgomery County, where the local Imagination Library told one reporter it usually costs around $120,000 per year to send out books to their nearly 10,000 participants, which equates to about $1.30 the county pays for each book.
Some counties, like Montgomery, also rely on nonprofits, businesses, and individual donations to help cover the costs while other rural counties place it as a line item in their budgets, so it is likely most counties would find some relief through a state takeover of the expenses.
While details on exactly how much will be allocated to the nonprofit have not been released yet, the estimated price tag to match the program’s local funding is between $10-15 million, depending on the participation rate. If the intention is to continue that match in perpetuity, it means that cost would be a recurring annual expense for the state from taxpayer dollars, much of which was previously raised through private donors or nonprofits.
President and CEO of GELF said of the pledge, “This proposed investment is a powerful commitment to Dolly’s legacy and to Tennessee children. We’re grateful to state leaders for their continued investment in early literacy and their trust in GELF to steward this funding statewide. Tennessee has long led the way in expanding access to books for young children, and this commitment will help strengthen that work for generations to come. We hope it also sets the standard for what’s possible and inspires organizations and individuals across Tennessee to invest boldly alongside GELF in creating even more opportunities for children to read, learn, and thrive.”
Public sentiment seems generally positive on the proposal, but some remain skeptical about government mismanagement or have expressed concern that the state’s fully funding the program will translate into total control.
“As long as the government stays out of it and doesn’t try to tell them how to run it. Dolly’s Imagination Library has proven they can distribute funds with integrity. Let’s leave them to it to them,” wrote one commentor about the press release.
Another said, “If that is ALL they will do, that’s fine. But if they think they have a right to determine what books can be sent, then no thank you.”
“There is absolutely no reason for taxpayers to take that over. I am sure Dolly has prepared for this, and it is such a good cause that donors would fully support it. We do not need more government involved in something like this. They should focus on education instead of getting sidetracked into a good cause and potentially causing it to go bad in the future. Government always goes sideways in the long run,” one person speculated.
But overall, people appear to approve of the idea, with many agreeing, “This is a perfect way to honor Dolly.”
Sources:
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
No! I love Dolly – but the organization has done quite well privately. Even with our dearly Tennessee Girl gone let’s wait to see what happens with future of this fine organization.
Stop spending our taxes on more new government programs.