Dolly Parton the celebration of his 80th birthday begins soon.
The icon of the country, 79, released a new version of his classic song “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” on Friday, January 16, with guest vocals from Reba McEntire, Queen Latifah, Lainey Wilson and his goddaughter Miley Cyrus.
“I first wrote this song in 1976 when I needed a little hope,” Parton said in a Instagram video on Thursday, January 15. “On this occasion, I’ve invited some very special women, some real bright lights, to help me bring that hope to life, and I can’t wait for you to hear what we’ve created together.”
The Grammy winner previously revealed that proceeds from the new song will benefit pediatric cancer research at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. from Vanderbilt to Nashville.
“I’m so excited for you guys to hear this 🤩,” Wilson, 33, said in an Instagram comment on Tuesday, January 13.
“Light of a Clear Morning” originally appeared on Parton’s 1977 album New harvest… First meeting. Before appearing on the new version, Cyrus, 33, put her own spin on the song for a 2021 episode. Saturday night live which aired the same weekend as Mother’s Day.
“Happy Mother’s Day to my godmother Dolly Parton and my mother, Tish” Cyrus said after finishing her performance.
Parton described “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” as her “release song” after the demise of her professional relationship with the late Porter Wagoner.
“I felt like I was stuck in a situation and I needed to be free, because God was calling me, life was calling me to something bigger,” Parton wrote in her 2020 book. Songwriter: My life to the letter. “When I finally said, ‘I have to go,’ I remember walking out the door of Porter’s office that day. As I was walking back to my house with (my husband) Carl in Brentwood, I thought, ‘It’s been a long, dark night.’
Miley Cyrus and Reba McEntire.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Maya Dehlin Spach/Getty ImagesShe added: “I started saying the words to the song. By the time I got home, I almost had the song done, in my head.”
Parton will turn 80 on Monday, January 19. The Grand Ole Opry celebrates its milestone anniversary with a star-studded celebration on Saturday, January 17, featuring Wilson, Vince Gill i Rhonda Vincentbut Parton herself they will not attend.
“Well, hello Grand Ole Opry family. I just wanted to say how much it means to me that you’re all coming together again this year to celebrate my big birthday with some of my songs,” the “Jolene” singer said in a video shared via the Grand Ole Opry’s official Instagram page on Jan. 7. person, but I’ll be sure to send you all my love.”
last year, Postponed birth a planned residency in Las Vegas in the midst of health problemsbut then assured fans not to worry.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images Dolly Parton’s late husband Carl Dean was a very private person, but his superstar wife still celebrated him with her music and occasionally gave him a rib too. One of the country icon’s most famous songs, “Jolene”, was inspired by an incident where a bank teller developed feelings for Dean, who married Parton (…)
“When my husband, Carl, was very ill, that was for a long time, and then when he died I didn’t take care of myself, so I let a lot of things go that I should have taken care of.” she explained in an October 2025 video. “So anyway, when I got to this, the doctor said we have to take care of this, we have to take care of this. Nothing major, but I had to cancel some things so I could be closer to home and closer to Vanderbilt (University Medical Center) where I’m doing some treatments here and there. But I wanted you to know. I’m not dying.”
Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Deanhe died in March 2025 at the age of 82. Two months later, she admitted that learning to live without him had been “a big adjustment”.
“I’m going to be fine and I’m very involved in my work and this has been the best thing that could have happened to me,” he said during a May 2025 appearance on the channel. today show “But I’ll always miss him, of course, and I’ll always love him. He was a great partner to me.”