‘Nine-to-Five’ superstar Dolly Parton has praised Nottingham City Council for its support of child reading, gifting the town hall an exclusive new song to help local fundraising.

In a cheery video message, Parton attempts a midlands welcome before encouraging members of the community to donate books to her Imagination Library scheme.

Nottingham is running a week of events to raise donations for the scheme, which gives free books to children from birth until their fifth birthday. While Parton’s Imagination Library has been set up in numerous other councils since launching in 1995, Nottingham is hoping to create the largest campaign in the UK.

‘You keep up the good work,’ Parton tells Nottingham in her video message.

The ‘Jolene’ country legend has also given the council her new song ‘I Believe In You’, which can be downloaded from a town hall website.

While the train-themed tune seems unlikely to inspire a new duet with Kenny Rogers, it will be the title track of Parton’s new compilation of children’s music to be released in 2015. All sales from the record will go towards supporting the Imagination Library.

‘Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo, I believe in you,’ she sings on Nottingham City Council’s exclusive song.

Parton said: ‘I am delighted that partners in Nottingham are working together to help even more kids have the opportunity to develop a love of books from the earliest possible age.

‘This program is one of the most important ways I know to improve the educational opportunities for children in our communities. I want kids to love books, to have an emotional connection – even a reverence for books. I am most proud of the fact that every child in the Imagination Library does not have to grow up without books in their home.’

Sounds like Parton ‘will always love you’ Nottingham!

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