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Starting Thursday, Dolly Parton will read bedtime stories to your kids

(CNN) — Parents working nine to five — now from home, amid the coronavirus pandemic — will soon get some help in entertaining their kids, thanks to country music superstar Dolly Parton.

The nine-time Grammy winner said beginning this Thursday, she will read bedtime stories to children in a new virtual series called “Goodnight with Dolly.”


Each week, Parton will read a new book selected from the Imagination Library, her book gifting program which mails free books to children.

“This is something I have been wanting to do for quite a while, but the timing never felt quite right,” Parton said in a statement on the program’s website. “I think it is pretty clear that now is the time to share a story and to share some love.”

The free 10-week series will kick off with a reading of “The Little Engine That Could,” a book that has been a source of inspiration for Parton.

“Dolly hopes this series of stories will provide comfort and reassurance to coping kids and families during the shelter-in-place mandates,” according to the news release announcing the series.

Parton’s storytime will be streamed on Facebook every Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. The series is presented as a collaboration between Parton, Dollywood, Abramorama, and The Dollywood Foundation.