08/26/2026
Along with the rest of the world, we are deeply saddened by the passing of American music icon, Dolly Patron. She truly gave the world so much more than great music.
As an orchestra, we especially admired the way she continued finding new ways to share her artistry. Her recent symphonic project brought her songs and stories to the stage alongside full orchestras across the country, giving audiences a new way to experience music that has connected generations.
Her impact reached far beyond the stage, too. Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, she made an extraordinary commitment to childhood literacy and helped put books into the hands of millions of children.
What many may not realize is that the Imagination Library only reaches individual communities because local organizations step up to make it possible. Here in Wichita Falls, our friends and fellow arts advocates at the Arts Council WF fund and facilitate the program locally, providing children with a free, age-appropriate book in the mail every month from birth until age five.
Dolly was a wonderful example of what it means to be a well-rounded musician and artist: someone who loved her craft, continued finding new ways to share it, and understood the importance of investing in the next generation.
We’re grateful that both her music and her commitment to education will continue to be shared for generations to come.
