Country music legend Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at 80, leaves a legacy in North Carolina that extends well beyond her music.
Since 2017, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has provided more than 24.6 million free books to young children across the state through North Carolina’s Smart Start network. More than 241,000 children are currently enrolled in the program statewide.
Jessica Strickland, a spokesperson for Smart Start, said Parton’s legacy includes bringing families together to read…