# Dolly Parton’s Book Program Brings Music to Autistic Girl

- Topic: world
- Source: [Upworthy](https://www.upworthy.com/pn-dolly-parton-book-helps-autistic-girl-love-music/)
- Published: 2026-09-01
- Original: https://www.upworthy.com/pn-dolly-parton-book-helps-autistic-girl-love-music/
- Language: en
- Image: https://www.upworthy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/girl-sits-alone.png?w=1024

## At a glance

- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library gave a copy of *Coat of Many Colors* to a family with an autistic daughter who had never tolerated music
- The book’s story sparked the child’s curiosity, leading her to request the original song and eventually more of Parton’s catalog
- The mother taught her daughter to use a streaming app, and the girl now curates playlists for every mood
- The program, launched in 1995, has distributed over 250 million books globally, supporting literacy and, as shown, emotional well‑being

## Sources

- [Upworthy](https://www.upworthy.com/pn-dolly-parton-book-helps-autistic-girl-love-music/)

## The story

After Dolly Parton’s death, her philanthropic legacy was highlighted when a mother shared how the singer’s Imagination Library program helped her autistic daughter re‑discover music. The family had lived in silence because the child could not tolerate background noise. A copy of Parton’s illustrated book, *Coat of Many Colors*, arrived through the library and sparked the daughter’s curiosity. The mother read the story, explained its musical roots, and the girl eventually asked to hear the song. When the mother played the track, the child loved it and began requesting more of Parton’s catalog. Over time she learned to use a music streaming app and now curates playlists for every mood, all featuring Dolly’s songs. The story illustrates how the library’s free book‑gifting initiative, launched in 1995, has reached over 250 million children worldwide, providing both literacy and, in this case, a newfound joy of music.

> Summary by Daily Read Bytes. [Read the original source](https://www.upworthy.com/pn-dolly-parton-book-helps-autistic-girl-love-music/)