Manhattan Declares Sept. 25 Dolly Parton Day After Singer's Death at 80

Q: Will Manhattan's temporary street signs and pink-lit skyline eventually evolve into a permanent monument for the beloved rhinestone icon?

There is no evidence yet that Manhattan’s temporary Dolly tributes are headed toward a permanent monument. What New York has announced so far is symbolic and short-term: a borough proclamation naming Sept. 25, 2026, as Dolly Parton Appreciation Day, pink lighting on landmarks including the Empire State Building, an altered IFC Center marquee, and a temporary “Dolly Parton Street” sign at Fulton Street. The public-facing focus of the memorial effort is not a statue or named site, but carrying forward Parton’s philanthropy through children’s-book donations and volunteering tied to literacy groups such as Brooklyn Book Bodega. The broader momentum around Parton is real. Manhattan has formally recognized her, New York state lawmakers have introduced “9 to 5 Day” legislation, and other states and cities are creating annual observances. That kind of recurring civic recognition can sometimes lay the groundwork for more permanent memorials. But in New York, a lasting monument, co-naming, or public installation would require a separate official process involving city agencies, transit authorities or local legislation, depending on the site. For now, the city’s message is commemorative rather than infrastructural: honor Parton through community events, music and literacy work. If public enthusiasm remains strong, a permanent marker is certainly possible, but nothing in the current announcements shows that Manhattan has moved beyond temporary tributes and annual remembrance.

3 articles · Updated · Time Out · Sep 4

September 25 has been proclaimed Dolly Parton Appreciation Day in Manhattan, with Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal tying the 9/25 date to Parton’s workplace anthem “9 to 5.”
The tribute follows Parton’s death on August 25 at age 80 and honors what the proclamation calls her lasting contributions to music, entertainment and philanthropy.
New York had already mounted public tributes, lighting the Empire State Building pink, posting “IFC Will Always Love You” on the IFC Center marquee and briefly renaming a Fulton Street subway sign for Parton.
Parton’s literacy work remains central to the observance: her Imagination Library has distributed more than 300 million free books, and New Yorkers are being urged to donate or help sort children’s books locally.
The day will also be marked with public celebrations, including a 7 p.m. line-dancing event at SOB’s with tickets from $13, extending the city’s broader memorial to the country star.