19-Year-Old Woman Recalls How Meeting Dolly Parton at Just 1 Day Old Made a ‘Big Impact’ on Her Life

Dolly Parton met Emma Jarman as a newborn during a 2007 visit to launch her Imagination Library program in the U.K., she told ‘Good Morning Britain.’

Good Morning Britain/Instagram; The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

Dolly Parton met Emma Jarman as a newborn during a 2007 visit to launch her Imagination Library program in the U.K.

Emma was the first recipient of a book from the program, which promotes childhood literacy for kids under five

Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995, after being inspired by her father who was unable to read or write

A teenager from England is opening up about meeting Dolly Parton for the first time as a newborn.

Emma Jarman, now 19, met Parton at just 1 day old after the late singer visited Rotherham Hospital in 2007 while launching her Imagination Library childhood literacy program in the U.K.

Discussing Parton’s literacy legacy on the U.K. show Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, Sept. 1, Emma opened up about the headline-making moment that happened so early in her life.

In a clip shared from the special encounter on the show, Parton is seen entering the hospital ward where Emma and her parents met the icon.

“Where’s my baby?” Parton says while entering the room. “How tiny! Is that Emma? Congratulations,” she tells Emma’s parents. Parton then says while cradling Emma, “My gosh. You know what, you’re going to get a book!”

Parton, who died Aug. 25 at age 80, was visiting the U.K. at the time to launch her Imagination Library program in the country, helping to inspire reading in children under the age of five, per GMB.

Emma, who was the first person to receive a book from the initiative in the U.K., said Parton has had a “big impact” on her life since that moment.

“I’d say that this Imagination Library did have quite a big impact because getting to be able to read so much from such an early age,” Emma told GMB, while joined by her mom on the show. “It does just give you the best starting blocks I believe.”

In photos shared by The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust on Instagram, Parton is seen gazing down at Emma as a newborn while holding her in the hospital, as her parents happily watch on.

Emma’s mother, Claire, recalled of meeting Parton on GMB, “She was so humble about it as well. Yes, okay, she came in and the press were there, and we talked about the story and everything, but she gave to so many people and she just made the most of what she could do.”

However, Emma’s father, Shane, also spoke about the moment on BBC Yorkshire, admitting he was “filled with fear” seeing Parton’s “great big red fingernails” as she held his newborn baby. But he added, “She walked in the room and it was like there was this energy about her. It wasn’t a nervous energy. She was so calming, really kind, the way she handled Emma was amazing. You couldn’t have asked for better. It wasn’t a rough handling. She was there nurturing her, holding her head, talking to her.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Parton launched the Imagination Library program in 1995 through her Dollywood Foundation. The program sends free, age-appropriate books to enrolled children from birth through age 5, regardless of their family’s income, per the organization.

Parton previously told PEOPLE that the program was inspired by her father, Robert Lee, who was unable to read and write.

Related Stories

PEOPLE reported on Monday, Aug. 31, that Parton left behind a final message for children who received books through her program, included with the final Imagination Library book children receive when they turn 5, as shared by Hannah Sampson, a staff writer for The Washington Post, on X.

“Dear Imagination Library Graduate,” Parton writes. “...There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go,” Parton writes.

“...Dream big dreams; learn everything you can learn; and care for all those who care for you.” Parton concludes, telling young graduates, “you can be anyone you want to be.”

Celebrity

Celebrity Deaths

Celebrity Death Tributes