Karen Pendleton had a moment of fame with the Queen of Country.
The owner of Pendleton’s Country Market knew Saturday that an employee with Unmistakably Lawrence purchased her flowers at the farmers market for an event with Dolly Parton and Gov. Laura Kelly. However, she didn’t know exactly where they were going.
She found out Monday through social media when she saw her flowers centerstage between the governor and hit singer during an Imagination Library event in Overland Park.
“It’s just fun to see that our flowers get to go places. We don’t get to travel that much, so where the flowers go is kind of fun to watch,” Pendleton said.
The country icon traveled to Overland Park on Monday to celebrate Kansas’ partnership with her Imagination Library and its expansion to children statewide.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has a special relationship with Kansas, Kelly said.
Pratt, Kansas, was the first location to join the program in 2005 after Parton’s home state of Tennessee.
Besides being a multi-platinum selling artist, Parton is also an advocate for literacy across the world.
“She just emanates joy, and personality and conviction and I wouldn’t want to mess with her,” Kelly said.
Kelly interviewed Parton on stage in the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center, asking her motivation for the project and plans for the future.
“Like so many others, I first became a fan through her music and by cheering her on in the movie ‘9 to 5,’ but I’ve become an even bigger admirer of her since learning about her so many philanthropic efforts,” Kelly said.
Her program has had major success in Kansas, with over 4 million books to children 0 to 5 in the state, Kelly said. Kansas is one of 15 states where the program is available statewide.
Parton grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, and her father didn’t have the opportunity to learn how to read, similar to others in the area at the time. She started the Imagination Library in 1995.
“Being that far back in the mountains, Daddy didn’t go to school. My daddy didn’t learn to read or write. That troubled him, troubled me that he was troubled,” Parton said.
“Daddy got to live long enough to see the Imagination Library take off, and I thought that was great,” she said.
The program is now sending books to 60,000 Kansas kids, with over 10,000 of those coming after Kelly announced Parton’s visit, Kelly said.
Parton said she hopes the program will eventually expand to be statewide in all of America.
“They’re gonna run to that mailbox soon as they can walk and they’re going to take that book in and make someone sit and read,” Parton said. “So it is my belief that if you can read, you can self-educate yourself if you can’t afford to go to college or school.”
After the interview, Parton sang “Coat of Many Colors,” and “Try,” the theme song for Imagination Library.
Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, spoke about his work in the Legislature on the program. Waymaster worked with Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet to expand the program to the entire state. His inspiration came from his son, Christian, who has been receiving the books since he was born.
“He has his own very library that was made possible by the Imagination Library, and that can be the fate of every child,” Waymaster said. “Every family across Kansas should have the same opportunity that Christian has.”
Click here to sign up children 0-5 to receive their monthly free book.
“I urge all parents and caregivers of kids under 5 who are not already taking advantage of this fantastic program to enroll their children as soon as possible,” Kelly said.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected]
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Dolly Parton was inspired to create the program because her dad struggled to read. The program has given out more than 4 million books in Kansas and 60,000 kids are currently enrolled in the program.
