Two states axed $10 million for Dolly Parton's books-for-kids program in the months before she died

“The work ahead has never felt more meaningful, and we will carry it forward as she lifts us all up,” the organization posted on social media.

But in two states — Indiana and Missouri — that work is already compromised. In the months before her death, these states cut a combined $10 million in public funding for the program, leaving tens of thousands of children without access to free monthly books.

Indiana pulls $6 million from the program

Indiana had been one of the program’s strongest state partners, providing a $6 million two-year allocation under former Republican Governor Eric Holcomb and enrolling more than 152,000 children — roughly 37% of all Indiana kids under 5, Newsweek reports.

When incumbent Republican Governor Mike Braun submitted his budget last year, that allocation was gone. Braun said the state would seek private philanthropic funding instead.

In a statement to Rolling Stone last year, the Dollywood Foundation said it pushed back. Jeff Conyers, vice chair and president, noted the organization’s hope that “Governor Braun and the Indiana Legislature will continue this vital investment by restoring the state’s funding match for local Imagination Library programs.”

He added the beauty of the library is that it “unites us all — regardless of politics — because every child deserves the chance to dream big and succeed.”

Indiana first lady Maureen Braun subsequently launched a private fundraising campaign to replace the lost state dollars. By March, according to Indiana Public Radio (as reported by Newsweek), the campaign had reached 90% of its two-year goal — a significant but not yet complete recovery.

After Parton’s passing, Governor Braun ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in Parton’s honor, according to WTHR. He did not restore the state funding.

Missouri cuts $4 million in funding

Missouri’s funding cut is arguably more striking because of what preceded it. In 2024, Missouri became the first state in the country to fully fund the Imagination Library — covering 100% of costs and delivering 1.9 million books to children in a single year, Newsweek reports.

“It makes me happy to think that I’m giving them a gift that matters to them, and it makes me happy to know that I’ve made them feel special,” she said at the time.

This year, according to Newsweek, Missouri lawmakers cut the program’s state funding from roughly $6 million to $2 million for the upcoming fiscal year — prompting the state to freeze new enrollment on July 1.

Children already enrolled are expected to continue receiving books while remaining funds last, but thousands of children born after the cut took effect or who hadn’t yet enrolled will be unable to access the program.

Why this matters financially and developmentally

The Imagination Library operates on a cost-sharing model: the Dollywood Foundation covers administrative costs, while local partners fund book and shipping expenses. In states with a 50/50 match, community programs raise half and the state covers the rest. When states pull their share, local programs face a funding gap they often cannot fill.