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Dolly Parton Reading Getty.jpg

Having Trouble Sleeping? Let Dolly Parton and Other Celebrities Read You Quarantine Bedtime Stories

By Kayleigh Donaldson | Celebrity | March 31, 2020 |

By Kayleigh Donaldson | Celebrity | March 31, 2020 |


Dolly Parton Reading Getty.jpg

Anyone else having serious trouble sleeping right now? I’m not sure what it is about the world being stuck in the middle of a pandemic that has forced us all to self-isolate and seen every major industry crumble under its weight that has made it so tough to get a few hours shut-eye in. It’s almost like we’re all on the verge of a total panic or something. Weird, right?

Celebrities haven’t been coping great with the pandemic either. Some have tried to sing our blues away while others hope to elicit sympathy from their mansions. It’s been fascinating, if nothing else, to see the flop-sweat of fame forming in real-time as we all watch major A-Listers try to keep up their shtick while in their pajamas and filming themselves on their phones. Some bits, however, have been totally worth it, especially when it comes to storytime.

Dolly Parton, queen of country and the icon of children’s literacy in America, recently announced the launch of her new web series, Goodnight With Dolly. Starting on April 2nd, Dolly will read aloud some stories ‘carefully chosen for their appropriate content at this moment in time’, so don’t expect her to launch into Jude the Obscure any time soon. According to a press release, Dolly feels that this is the perfect time for a project that she’s wanted to do for a long time now, and frankly, I agree. Dolly will help ease those blues.



Dolly’s not the only one helping to lull us all to sleep with a good picture book. Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams teamed up with Save the Children and No Kid Hungry to launch #SaveWithStories, offering storytime with major stars as a way to raise money to help vulnerable kids during the COVID-19 crisis. Garner and Adams used every connection in their book too.

Why yes, that is the second or third Best Chris in his plaid shirt reading a book about a doggie.


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“If You Give A Dog A Donut” by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond (published by @harperkids) - read by #ChrisEvans . THIRTY MILLION CHILDREN rely on school for food. Responding to the needs of kids during these school closures, @savethechildren and @nokidhungry have a new fund @SAVEWITHSTORIES to support food banks, and mobile meal trucks, and community feeding programs with funds to do what they do best—and also—with educational toys, books, and worksheets to make sure brains are full, as well as bellies. . If you can manage a one time gift of $10, please text SAVE to 20222. If another amount would work better for you, please visit our website—link in bio. There is no maximum and there is no minimum—together we will rise and together we can help. . Thank you and stay safe. XX #SAVEWITHSTORIES

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Gabrielle Union read Hair Love, which you may recognize as the story that won this year’s Best Animated Short Oscar!


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“Hair Love” by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison (published by @penguinkids and @penguinrandomhouse) - read by @gabunion . THIRTY MILLION CHILDREN rely on school for food. Responding to the needs of kids during these school closures, @savethechildren and @nokidhungry have a new fund @SAVEWITHSTORIES to support food banks, and mobile meal trucks, and community feeding programs with funds to do what they do best—and also—with educational toys, books, and worksheets to make sure brains are full, as well as bellies. . If you can manage a one time gift of $10, please text SAVE to 20222. If another amount would work better for you, please visit our website—link in bio. There is no maximum and there is no minimum—together we will rise and together we can help. . Thank you and stay safe. XX #SAVEWITHSTORIES

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Jake Gyllenhaal showed off that sweet quarantine long hair to ell us all about balloons, as written by Jamie Lee Curtis.


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“Where Do Balloons Go?” by Jamie Lee Curtis, illustrated by Laura Cornell (published by @harperkids) - read by @jakegyllenhaal . THIRTY MILLION CHILDREN rely on school for food. Responding to the needs of kids during these school closures, @savethechildren and @nokidhungry have a new fund @SAVEWITHSTORIES to support food banks, and mobile meal trucks, and community feeding programs with funds to do what they do best—and also—with educational toys, books, and worksheets to make sure brains are full, as well as bellies. . If you can manage a one time gift of $10, please text SAVE to 20222. If another amount would work better for you, please visit our website—link in bio. There is no maximum and there is no minimum—together we will rise and together we can help. . Thank you and stay safe. XX #SAVEWITHSTORIES

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Eternal Kiwi delight Sam Neill isn’t reading aloud for charity. He’s just bored and charming and not allowed to get drunk in the fields with his pigs anymore. We salute you, nonetheless.



If you’re British then the chances are you’re already familiar with the CBeebies Bedtime Hour. For parents of small kids, this is often a godsend, and it’s pretty fun for the mums too, especially when they bring on big names like Tom Hardy, James McAvoy, and David Tennant. For those who are new to this joy, you’re welcome…



Hang in there, friends.



Header Image Source: Getty Images.