Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has gifted more than 330 million books to kids. The note she tucked into the last one is bringing parents to tears.

After Parton's death, parents of children who completed the program shared her letter to graduates included in their final book.

She was known as a "legend," an "icon" and the "queen of country music." But Dolly Parton — who died Tuesday at 80 after a brief battle with cancer — once said she'd rather be remembered by a much more modest title: "Book lady."

In 1995, Parton launched the Imagination Library, a nonprofit foundation that gives away free books to children from birth to age 5, as a tribute to her father, who couldn't read.

"He was one of the wisest men I've ever known but I knew in my heart this inability to read probably kept him from seeing all his dreams come true," Parton explained in a video posted to the library's website. "So inspiring kids to love to read became my passion and my mission."

Since its inception, the Imagination Library has gifted more than 330 million books to more than 3 million kids in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Ireland and Australia. The program sends one book per month to participating children until they turn 5. Every child starts with the same first book (The Little Engine That Could) and gets the same last one: Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!

After her death was announced on Tuesday, parents of children who completed the program shared the note from Parton tucked into the final book:

Dear Imagination Library Graduate,

My, how time flies. It seems it was only yesterday when your family and friends read you your first story. You were just a baby. Now you're five years old and about to go to school. How exciting!

This may be your last book from my Imagination Library but you have to promise me you will keep on reading. If you go to your local public library you will find a great number of books just for kids your age. Every book is a treasure and every time you open one up you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places.

I hope you have a great time in school. I bet your school will even have a library where you can check out books. You and all of your friends are very special. There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go. Just remember the lessons my family taught me — dream big dreams; learn everything you can learn; and care for all those who care for you. You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be.

You are terrific, and remember…

I Will Always Love You,

Dolly

"This note in the final book from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library wrecked me last year when my daughter turned 5," Hannah Sampson, a Washington Post staff writer, wrote in an X post that included a photo of Parton's letter. "Tearing up again reading it now."

This note in the final book from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library wrecked me last year when my daughter turned 5. Tearing up again reading it now. pic.twitter.com/ODpgsc0tCN

— Hannah Sampson (@hannahbsampson) August 25, 2026

Others shared a similar video message that Parton emailed to Imagination Library graduates. 

Some commenters said they received the message on Tuesday, the day Parton's death was announced.

"We literally got this today on my daughter's 5th birthday. Same day you have gone on and left this world," one commenter wrote. "Thank you Dolly for everything you've done, for being an inspiration, and for striving to give kids more opportunities than what you had when you were that age. May we all go on to live up to your example."

"We got our email this morning too for my son's birthday," wrote another. "[I] keep getting choked up thinking about showing this to him. thank you for everything you have done for us, aunt dolly!!!!"

Dolly Parton meets young children at an Imagination Library event in England in 2007.

(Pool/Getty Images)

While announcing her death, Parton's family said that in lieu of flowers, it is asking for donations to the Imagination Library. 

Earlier this summer, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donated $2 million to the nonprofit. And in one of her final Instagram videos, Parton responded by thanking them.

"Taylor and Travis, it's Dolly, and I was just told that you two are making a donation of two million dollars to my Imagination Library," Parton said. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm blown away and overjoyed with that gratitude."

She closed the video by singing the chorus to her famous song, telling the couple, "I will always love you."