Dolly Parton's poignant final Imagination Library letter is revealed as she encourages children to 'dream big' and 'be anyone you want to be'

Dolly Parton's poignant final Imagination Library letter has been shared with the public following her death one week ago, aged 80, following a brief battle with cancer. The Imagination Library is a book gifting programme to provide free books for children each month from birth to age five. It started in America and launched in the United Kingdom in 2008. In her final letter, Dolly wrote: 'Dear Imagination Library Graduate...'Every book is a treasure and every time you open one up you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places. 'There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go.' Dolly Parton's poignant final Imagination Library letter has beenrevealed as she encouraged children to 'dream big' and 'be anyone you want to be'The letter concludes with three pieces of advice Dolly learned from her family. 'Dream big dreams; learn everything you can learn; and care for all those who care for you. You can be anyone you want to be. 'You are terrific, and remember… I Will Always Love You, Dolly. The message is not entirely new, it's just the first time it was shared as a letter. A 2022 video also featured Parton delivering the same message.Dolly previously said that the Imagination Library program was inspired by her father, Robert Lee, who was unable to read and write because he had to leave school as a child to work.She told PEOPLE back in 2022: 'That always made me feel bad about my dad, so I started it based on that, just for our county.'It’s just grown in leaps and bounds ever since then, but it came from a place in my heart to try to help children in their young years, their most impressionable years, to learn how to read and write.' Elsewhere, Dolly's estate is making sure her legacy lives on. The late country icon will be remembered with a two-day music festival that will be hosted in both Nashville and London next year Last year, the Imagination Library was giving out more than 3.4 million books each month to children in the U.S. and abroad and had provided more than 300 million books since its launch. Dolly previously said: 'I’m proud of the Imagination Library as much as anything I’ve ever done in my life.'Dolly's family asked fans to honor her legacy by supporting the Imagination Library in lieu of sending flowers. It was previously reported that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donated $2 million to it in July, ahead of their wedding. Dolly responded at the time with a sweet video, saying: 'I’m blown away and overjoyed with that gratitude.'Now, it’s evident that you two have made giving back a key part of your lives. So, hey, when you have your firstborn, can I have it? Because that is going to be one special baby.' Elsewhere, Dolly's estate is making sure her legacy lives on. The late country icon will be remembered with a two-day music festival that will be hosted in both Nashville and London next year.DollyFest will take place across two consecutive weekends but the idea isn’t brand new.The festival was originally scheduled to take place in January 2026 and was going to feature Parton as a performer and host.‘What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,’ Danny Nozell, Founder/CEO of CTK Enterprises, said in a press release.‘Many people behind the scenes know that DOLLYFEST is a dream of Dolly’s that was intended to take place on her 80th birthday in Nashville.’The statement published on DollyParton.com Monday explained that the star’s health issues delayed the event. However, they have continued to push on with organizing the gathering for fans.‘We had the venue booked and we had the announcement ready to go. And then, in August 2025, Dolly had to take a step back after her initial health challenges,’ the website reads.‘A lot of people always say, WWDD (What Would Dolly Do?), and, well, at this moment, DOLLYFEST is WDWD (What Dolly Would Do!).’DollyFest will feature multiple artists, the statement confirms.While there may be other events lined up to celebrate and remember the Jolene singer, Nozell points out that this is one Parton uniquely had a hand in.‘We are not discouraging people from celebrating Dolly in the ways they choose,’ Nozell goes on.‘However, as far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted. So, instead, it feels more appropriate for us to take a beat, let all the tributes that immediately make sense occur naturally, and then, see through this festival-style concept that was truly dreamed up by Dolly.’