Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital Chronicle 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.

INDIANAPOLIS - Governor Mike Braun's new state budget proposal would eliminate Indiana's statewide funding match for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This change puts the continuation of the early literacy program at risk in local counties and throughout the state.

The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program was left out of a recent Indiana state budget proposal, putting the scheme at risk of cancelation and the singer is fighting back

Country music star Dolly Parton called on Indiana Gov. Mike Braun to reconsider cutting funds for her Imagination Library initiative, which benefits children.

After Indiana made national headlines for cutting funding to keep Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Gov. Braun taps his wife to find new funding sources.

"The beauty of the Imagination Library is that it unites us all — regardless of politics," Parton's rep said in a statement.

"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.

Gov. Mike Braun has asked his wife to find private funding to continue Dolly Parton's Imagination Library after he omitted the literacy program from his state budget.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which sends a book a month to children five and younger, requires local funding and is currently facing a budget cut in Indiana, but the Dollywood Foundation has set up an endowment to continue the program.

Indiana government is ending support for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program. Private investors to take over, with Gov. Braun's wife leading efforts.

Do you remember the part in Elf where the nun cries, "But the children love the books!" as Buddy's real-life father, Walter, delivers the ruthless news that the orphanage has missed its rental payments and must now return the children's books?