California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill making Sep. 25 Dolly Parton Day statewide. Senate Bill 931 was put forward by Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, and John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, and was then signed by Newsom this Sunday.
The groundbreaking singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist has deep ties to California. Parton first came to Hollywood in 1980 to make her acting debut in the feminist comedy film “9 to 5”, which also inspired the country singer’s working-class anthem, which was used to promote the film.
“There are few more memorable people than Dolly, so when it came to giving her an official day in California, there really was only one date that made any sense,” said Newsom in an announcement video he posted on Facebook.
For anyone who missed it, the date is a clever reference to Parton’s song “9 to 5”.
Dubbed “Queen of Country”, Parton has more number-one hits than any other female country artist and has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Parton was also an uncredited producer for the film and hit television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1992).
Parton is also remembered for her work outside of the entertainment industry. In 1995, Parton started th...