Dolly Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, on 25 August 2026, after a brief illness. She was 80. Her nephew announced the news in a video, as she had asked him years before.
In 1995, Dolly created the Imagination Library as a tribute to her father, who could not read. Every month, registered children receive a book by post, from birth to the age of five, at no cost to families. The programme works in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia. In Europe, it started in Rotherham, England, in 2007. More than 330 million books have been sent, and the programme continues after her death.
Watch or listen: The Journey of an Imagination Library Book, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library channel
In April 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dolly gave one million dollars to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, in honour of her friend Dr Naji Abumrad. The Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund helped the early research on the Moderna vaccine. A researcher said: “Her money helped us develop the test that we used to first show that the Moderna vaccine was giving people a good immune response.”
Miley wrote that Dolly would want her to “feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong”. She added: “One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis.”
In this session, you need to pay tribute, explain what her actions were for, and say what will remain.
To explain a goal, we use to / in order to / so that: She created the library so that children could read. To describe how a programme works, we use the present passive: A book is sent every month. To say what will remain, we use will: Her songs will live on.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to pass away | to die (polite) | Dolly passed away in 2026. |
| a tribute | words or actions to honour someone | Miley wrote a tribute. |
| a charity | an organisation that helps people | The Imagination Library is a charity programme. |
| a donation | money given to help | She made a donation for research. |
| literacy | the ability to read and write | The library helps literacy. |
| research | scientific work to discover new things | Her money helped vaccine research. |
| to give back | to help the community that helped you | Dolly wanted to give back. |
| to live on | to continue to exist | Her music will live on. |
Quick check. Make it passive: The library sends a book every month.
a. to help research on COVID-19 · b. so that children could love reading · c. to create jobs in her region
1b, 2a, 3c
Put the verbs in the present passive: Each book (choose) ... by experts. Then it (print) ... and (pack) ... . Finally it (send) ... to the child, at no cost to the family.
is chosen · is printed · is packed · is sent
Write a tribute of 80 to 100 words: who she was, two things she did (past simple), why she did them (to / so that), and what will remain (will). Keep a respectful tone.
Model: Dolly Parton was a singer, a songwriter and a generous woman. She grew up poor in Tennessee. She created the Imagination Library so that children could have books at home, and she gave money to help vaccine research. Her songs, like Jolene and 9 to 5, will live on, and millions of children will remember the books with her name.
“I will always love her and want to make her proud.” (Miley Cyrus, 26 August 2026). The torch is now in the hands of the next generation. How can we carry on someone's legacy?
Use the present perfect to make a review: She has inspired millions of people. The library has sent more than 330 million books. Prepare a one-minute oral tribute for a radio programme.