'Goodnight With Dolly': Dolly Parton will read bedtime stories to kids online to ease their coronavirus stress
Everyone knows and loves Dolly Parton for her immense talent, kind-hearted nature and her wicked sense of humor. And the iconic country singer showcased all aspects of her vibrant personality in an April 3 interview with Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb on the 'Today with Hoda & Jenna' show, where she announced her new Goodnight with Dolly reading program for kids during the coronavirus pandemic and also revealed how she had been coping with the quarantine, and the news of Kenny Rogers' passing away.
Speaking via a remote interview due to the coronavirus restrictions, Dolly Parton revealed that her Imagination Library, which provides free books for young readers up to 5 years of age, had decided to start a new reading program called 'Goodnight with Dolly'. As part of this initiative, the country singer would read weekly bedtime stories for children starting from Thursday, April 3 at 7 pm ET with a live stream reading of 'The Little Engine That Could' via her Imagination Library social media pages.
"It's a real positive book for the times right now," the singer added. Parton said that it would help entertain kids who were stuck at home during the quarantine period, and also help calm many parents down, given the uncertainty and anxiety most people are currently facing whilst being sequestered for an indefinite period of time. "I thought, 'Why don't I just read a book to everybody while their parents have their kids up in bed?" said the singer, whose thoughtful gesture is sure to bring to a smile to many fans' faces.
The Goodnight with Dolly reading program will continue every Thursday for the next 10 weeks.
The 74-year-old artiste also spoke about her dismay on learning about her good friend Kenny Rogers' death. The country music icon passed away aged 81 on March 20 due to natural causes. "When Kenny passed away, it caught me by surprise," said Parton. "I knew he wasn't doing well, but it was just like I lost someone so close to me it just broke my heart. It just shocked me. I was very emotional about it for several days, and then I kind of put it in a peaceful place knowing that he's at peace. I'll always treasure what we had together."
Dolly Parton will be paying tribute to Kenny Rogers on the upcoming 'CMT Giants Kenny Rogers: A Benefit For MusiCares' program along with a host of other musical artistes like Gavin DeGraw, Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, Lady Antebellum, Lionel Richie, Rascal Flatts, and more. The special will on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CST on CMT, with rebroadcasts on April 10 and 11 to follow - donations for MusicCares' COVID-19 relief fund will also be solicited during the broadcast.
On a lighter note, Parton also showcased her sense of humor when she talked about being isolated at home along with her husband, Carl Dean. She advised bride-to-be Hoda Kotb on coping techniques for her new marital life, quipping "I would say if you're trapped in the house with him, you might want to be in separate rooms." The singer stressed the importance of social distancing from one's partner even whilst at home, joking "The reason it worked for me is because I've stayed gone. I can't get away now. I'm stuck there now. I might find out who he is. We may not make it until the next anniversary."
It was all in good humor of course, as Dolly explained "We both are very crazy people, and we have a completely different sense of humor, but we just absolutely laugh all the time and that's been true through the years.'' She went to say, "Even right now, during these times I've been making jokes about some of the stuff. People say, 'Oh you shouldn't be talking about that.' I say, 'Oh, I know it's no laughing matter what's going on, but laughter truly is the best medicine, and it's true with relationships as well."