After slashing a popular reading program from the budget, Gov. Mike Braun said Friday he asked First Lady Maureen Braun to spearhead an initiative to keep Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Indiana.

Dolly Parton has called on Indiana’s governor to reverse course on plans to do away with her popular “Imagination Library” program. The country singer, who started the book gifting program to encourage early literacy,

"The beauty of the Imagination Library is that it unites us all-regardless of politics-because every child deserves the chance to dream big and succeed," a statement reads.

Indiana aims to continue its gains in child literacy. And the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has been touted as a key component. But now

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program, which provides books to young readers in several states, was left out of the state budget proposed by Indiana Republicans without explanation, the South Bend Tribune reported Wednesday.

Indiana's new budget does not include funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The program sends free books to children from birth to age 5. It has helped Indiana's child literacy ranking rise from 19th to 6th nationwide.

Some Indiana state representatives are currently attempting an own-goal on their state’s literacy rates. While still in its early stages, a proposed state budget bill aims to drop funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library sends books to thousands of kids across Indiana. A new budget proposal from Republicans could slash its funding.