NY state lawmakers want to honor Dolly Parton by renaming 9/25 '9 to 5' day

Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News on Sep 3, 2026

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NEW YORK — Superstar Dolly Parton’s workday anthem “9 to 5” has resonated with generations of New Yorkers grinding out a living. Now, State Senators Erik Bottcher and Jeremy Cooney are working to rename 9/25 into “9 to 5” day to honor the country music icon.

Bottcher and Cooney are slated to announce plans on Thursday to introduce a bill that would establish the day to celebrate her legacy.

Parton, the legendary singer and songwriter, passed away last week at age 80 after a short battle with cancer.

Bottcher told the Daily News in an interview that Parton’s outspoken support for the LGBTQ+ community made him feel seen while growing up in a small upstate town as a young closeted gay person.

“I can recall Dolly Parton speaking out for the LGBT community,” Bottcher said. “It was a big deal to me and I’m sure for millions of others. She was one of those rare people who seemed to belong to everyone and she also had deep ties to New York City. She lived part time in New York, and a lot of her best work was created in New York and set in New York — so it’s only fitting that Sept. 25 be designated as 9 to 5 day across New York state.”

The lawmakers plan to introduce the legislation when the New York State Legislature reconvenes in January.

Similar efforts to honor Parton with a “9 to 5” day are also underway in Tennessee, California and Pennsylvania, and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman‑Sigal proclaimed Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Appreciation Day on Wednesday.

Although Parton, a Tennessee native, called that state home, she had various connections to the Big Apple, including an apartment on Fifth Avenue in the 1980s and another on York Avenue in the 2000s. She wrote the score for “9 to 5: The Musical,” which opened at the Marquis Theatre in Manhattan in 2009 and earned her a Tony nomination, and her charitable work.

“Dolly’s impact extends far beyond her musical talent, with her Imagination Library providing free monthly books to over 170,000 children in New York, supporting childhood literacy and bringing joy to families,” Cooney said in a statement. “I’m proud to join Senator Bottcher in celebrating Dolly’s legacy and continuing her work.”

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