Dolly Parton has received an abundance of congratulatory messages during her 50-year career in show business.
But her Tennessee letter box will soon receive a new envelope from across the Atlantic after Aberdeen council chiefs decided to write and thank the country and western star for bringing her imagination library to the Granite City.
Last month, the 9 to 5 singer spoke exclusively to the Press and Journal after revealing that Aberdeen was the next location for her global scheme for underprivileged youngsters.
Her Imagination Library provides free books for children from birth to the age of five and operates across the world.
From this month, every child in care in Aberdeen will receive a book in the post every month.
Each one is personally addressed and all titles in the library are published by Penguin Random House.
Now the city’s education committee has agreed to send their own letter of thanks to the 70-year-old star.
Ms Parton, who grew up in Sevier County, Tennessee, has described her own family as “dirt poor”.
But, over a five-decade career, she transcended hardship to become the most successful country and western star of all time with such international hits as I will Always Love You, Jolene, 9 to 5 and many more.
Since Ms Parton set up the first Imagination Library in 1995, her Dollywood Foundation has sent more than 70 million free books to children worldwide, with more than 1.3million posted in the UK.
Announcing the project, Ms Parton said: “Being able to bring my Imagination Library to Aberdeen is particularly special to me, as I have always felt a special affinity with Scotland.”
The letter of thanks is still being composed, but will be sent to Ms Parton later this week.
Last night, education convener Angela Taylor said the council felt it was appropriate to thank her personally for the “generous gesture”.
She added: “This gesture from Dolly will be so important for some of the most underprivileged children in the city that we had to thank her.
“Hundreds of underprivileged children will now have access to their own library of books to help their own development and education.”
