Outgoing Mayor Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis wanted to honor East Tennessee legend Dolly Parton and her impact on region.

Mathis declared September 25th as “Dolly Parton Day” in Cocke County. The date, September 25, was chosen to match one of the titles of her movies, “9 to 5.”

“She was always there when her people needed her most,” Mathis said. “She never hesitated to give back to her home state.”

When Hurricane Helene hit and flood waters came through Cocke County, Dolly contributed $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation.

The proclamation reads: “Whereas, Dolly Parton, a beloved daughter of the Great Smoky Mountains and native daughter of East Tennessee, has shared her extraordinary talents with the world while remaining deeply connected to her Appalachian roots, faith and values of hard work, generosity and helping others “Through her music, storytelling, philanthropy and personal generosity, Dolly has brought joy and hope to millions while continually using her success to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, particularly children and families “In 1995, Dolly established ‘Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,’ inspired by her father’s love of children and his inability to read and write, with the simple belief that every child should have the opportunity to own books and discover the joy of reading “What began as a small effort to provide books for children in her home county of Sevier has grown into a worldwide gift of literacy, with more than 304 million books gifted to children through the Imagination Library by the end of 2025, opening doors of imagination, learning and opportunity for generations of children “When Hurricane Helene devasted East Tennessee on September 24, 2024, Dolly demonstrated once again her love for her home and neighbors by contributing $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation to assist those affected by the disaster, including families and communities in East Tennessee, while her East Tennessee businesses and the Dollywood Foundation provided an additional $1 million toward relief efforts “Dolly’s lifelong commitment to children, families, education, Appalachia and those in times of need reflects the very best of the Appalachian spirit and serves as an inspiration to us all “Now, therefore, let it be resolved that I, Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis, do hereby proclaim September 25, 2026 as ‘Dolly Parton Day’ in Cocke County, Tennessee, in recognition of (her) remarkable life, her enduring commitment to service and generosity, her love for Appalachia and her compassion for the people of Cocke County and East Tennessee.”

The proclamation was signed on August 28.