CMA And Partners Donate $1 Million To Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

CMA And Partners Donate $1 Million To Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Books From Dolly Parton's Imagination Library At Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library In Washington
Children's books, including some from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, displayed on shelves in the children's section at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 27, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee

Wednesday’s star-studded ABC tribute special honoring the late Dolly Parton has resulted in a combined $1 million donation to her Imagination Library charity. The Country Music Association, alongside Belmont University, The Walt Disney Company, and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, announced the contribution following the broadcast of CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton. The special featured performances from Ella Langley, Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde, Brad Paisley, and others. “A night full of her music resulted in a $1 million donation to Imagination Library,” said CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. Parton founded the literacy program in 1995, inspired by her father’s inability to read. The donation will fund books for children worldwide. Story URL