Dolly Parton Encourages Young Children to Read Through Charity

A new Christmas movie based on Dolly Parton's life airs this week, but the country music legend is already providing gifts to thousands in the D.C. area.

Forty percent of the District's children under the age of 5 signed up to receive free books selected by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library charity and paid for by the D.C. government.

"Well, it's very important to me, and I want to say to them enjoy your books,” Parton said. “I'm so happy that I'm able to give them to you. I think celebrities, when you get in a position to help, you should. And I think you should choose a charity that's near and dear to your heart. And this one is based on real feelings for me. My dad couldn't read or write, but smart, smart man. And that helped me get the whole program started."

Learn more about the Books from Birth reading program here.

Dolly Parton's "Christmas of Many Colors" airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. on NBC4.

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