Best Leaders 2025: Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton's Early Life and Inspiration

Dolly Parton was born and raised in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, where her family faced difficult living conditions, lacking basic amenities such as electricity and running water. From an early age, she witnessed the impact of poverty and the struggles it brought to her and her 11 siblings.

Reflecting on her upbringing, Parton explained,

"My childhood home had no electricity or running water, and I often faced ridicule from peers because of our family's poverty."

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The Imagination Library: Impact and Reach

In 1995, inspired by her father's inability to read and a desire to help children in her hometown, Dolly Parton launched the Imagination Library. The program started in Sevier County, Tennessee, and quickly expanded due to its success.

"As of October 2025, the program has given more than 300 million free books to preschool-aged children in the United States, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. One in seven American children under the age of 5 receives books from the Imagination Library."

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Through this initiative, Parton has fostered a love for reading and learning, believing firmly that early exposure to books shapes young lives positively.

"I created the Imagination Library to help inspire a love of books and reading early in a child’s life because if you can read, you can teach yourself if you have to."

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Community Initiatives in Sevier County

Witnessing a 9% unemployment rate and high dropout rates in Sevier County, Parton worked to create positive change through economic and educational opportunities. She founded Dollywood—a theme park that brought jobs and hope to local families.

Parton introduced scholarships for high school students and provided new uniforms for the school band.
She invested in education resources, funding a computer lab and a dropout prevention hotline.
In 1991, she launched the “Buddy Program” at a local middle school and contributed $500,000 to support teacher assistants’ salaries.

Her consistent efforts have strengthened her community, offering lasting support for children’s education and well-being.

Author's Summary

Dolly Parton's commitment to literacy and community development has positively transformed the lives of millions of children worldwide, making her a true leader in 2025.

U.S. News & World Report — 2025-11-17