Autistic daughter could not tolerate music. A book from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library changed everything
Sue Spencer's heartfelt tribute to Dolly Parton reminded everyone that she wasn't just a music icon, but an inspiring, legendary human
One day after she peacefully passed away in her Nashville home, Dolly Parton is being remembered as an inspiring torchbearer by many, and one of them is a mom named Sue Spencer (@susieespencer). Up until a few years back, music was a once-in-a-blue-moon phenomenon in her house since her autistic daughter couldn’t put up with it. But everything changed when the family received a book from Parton’s Imagination Library. In an August 26, 2026 post on Instagram Threads, which has garnered more than 13,000 likes, Spencer shared a sweet tribute to Parton, thanking her for the music in more ways than one.
Life-changing book
Being autistic, Spencer’s daughter couldn’t "tolerate" music. "No radio on to do the dishes, no playlist for cleaning, no random little dance parties — nothing," she recalled. But ever since they got Parton’s illustrated book “Coat of Many Colors," her daughter's state of mind began to shift. The first time Spencer read it to her daughter, she explained that it was the story of a song. A few more reads, and the daughter asked her if she could sing the song to her. As time went by, the story intensified her curiosity, and she suddenly felt the desire to listen to the song.
After a prolonged musical drought, Spencer played the song to her child. To her excitement, her daughter asked for more of Parton’s songs. "A while later, I had a 7-year-old belting out Jolene," she said. Eventually, Spencer taught her to operate the music app, and the little girl was totally immersed in music, in contrast to her former self. “Cut to now, and she’s a 12-year-old with playlists for every mood, each one with a little bit of Dolly in,” Spencer described.
A book for everything and everyone
Imagination Library is a one-of-a-kind library and a free book-gifting program that delivers high-quality age-appropriate books to children from birth until age five. The program was first launched in 1995 in Tennessee, where the star grew up and was inspired by her illiterate father. For most of his life, Parton’s father lived in shame because he couldn’t read or write. He often dreamed of her daughter being called a “book lady,” a dream Parton fulfilled as part of her legacy. In an interview with Local On 2, Parton admitted that the “Imagination Library” was one of the things she was the most proud of.
She said the library is intended for all children, even those who can’t afford college or school education. The library has given away over 250 million books that have dramatically changed people’s lives. Sally Smith, who operates Imagination Library in South Oxford, told the BBC that around 100,000 books had been distributed in her area. She said that the Dollywood Foundation has "strong legacy plans" and "children will continue to receive those magical objects into their lives for many years to come."
Inspiring legacy of the 'Book Lady'
Meanwhile, readers were in puddles after reading Spencer’s post. Many speculated that Parton must have loved to know that her work helped a child this way. @queentonks_efda commented, "She would’ve made up a song for them on the spot using her fingernails as accompaniment." @habitchualritual shared a similar episode: "My oldest son had a few years where he hated music. One night he sat down with me and watched a bunch of Michael Jackson videos (Man in the Mirror, Thriller, and They Don't Care About Us). I haven't heard anything about him hating music since."
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Adorable Letter from Dolly Parton in a kid's book is why she'll always be a national treasure
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