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Dolly Parton to read bedtimes stories in new video series 'Goodnight With Dolly'

Amy Johnson
·Contributor
Updated ·2 min read
Singer Dolly Parton reads her book, "The Coat of Many Colors" to schoolchildren at The Library of Congress on February 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images)
Singer Dolly Parton reads her book, "The Coat of Many Colors" to schoolchildren at The Library of Congress on February 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images)

Dolly Parton has decided to put her soothing tones to good use during the coronavirus pandemic as she's set to treat thousands to bedtime stories.

The singer is launching her own YouTube series Goodnight With Dolly which will see her read books to the masses.

She said: “This is something I have been wanting to do for quite a while, but the timing never felt quite right.

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"I think it is pretty clear that now is the time to share a story and to share some love. It is an honour for me to share the incredible talent of these authors and illustrators. They make us smile, they make us laugh and they make us think.”

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The 74-year-old will read a book from her Imagination Library, a literacy programme she started in 1995 which delivers books to youngsters in the US, UK and beyond.

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The series is due to launch on Thursday 2 April in the US, with Rolling Stone reporting that it will last for 10 weeks.

Parton is one of a number of celebrities using the internet to entertain or inform during the coronavirus outbreak.

Ben and Isaac Rickett follow P.E with Joe, a fitness workout by fitness coach Joe Wicks, aimed at children that are being home schooled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, in Cheshire, England, Monday March 23, 2020. For some people the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, but for others it causes severe illness. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Ben and Isaac Rickett follow P.E with Joe, a fitness workout by fitness coach Joe Wicks, aimed at children that are being home schooled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, in Cheshire, England, Monday March 23, 2020. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

The Body Coach Joe Wicks has gone live every weekday morning on YouTube since school closures came into effect in the UK to give those at home a PE lesson straight from his living room.

Meanwhile, musical stars including the Backstreet Boys, Billie Eilish and Elton John performed from their homes for the iHeart Living Room Concert for America.

John seized the opportunity to mention how AIDS was "another infectious disease that was ignored" as he warned that the same mistakes should not be made.

The Tiny Dancer singer is a long-time AIDS activist and found of the Elton John AIDS foundation.