awww usually this community is a little low in upvotes and i just posted this to remind a few readers, im so glad it’s reached hundreds. as someone from tennessee, we’ve always known what a gem dolly was and its so so so refreshing to see her be so loudly recognized not only for her incredible career but for her philanthropy and humanity by the entire world 😭❤️🥹

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Born and raised in a rural Appalachian Tennessee town, grew up getting books from Dolly’s Imagination Library and I still have most if not all that my sister and I were given. I learned to read early because of her, and I continue to read because she made me enjoy it. I know a lot of kids where I lived grew up dirt poor and those were some of their first books they actually owned and didn’t borrow. Dolly means so much to me 🫶

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