Dolly Parton celebrates her 80th birthday with a new chapter of one of her most enduring songs. The country icon has released a newly recorded version of “Light from a clear blue morning,” bring together Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Reba McEntire and Queen Latifah for a collaboration that leans toward the song’s original promise of resilience and renewal.
The reworked track comes ahead of Parton’s birthday on January 19 and is out now, along with a music video. The revenue from the single and the video will come benefit pediatric cancer research at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville. This continues Parton’s long-standing commitment to philanthropy directly linked to her creative work.
First released in 1977 New harvest…First collection, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” reached number 11 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart and has since become one of Parton’s most quietly powerful compositions. Written during a period of personal uncertainty, the song has endured as a gentle declaration of hope rather than a grand anthem. That tone remains intact here, even as the arrangement expands.
The new recording features David Foster on piano and backing vocals from The Christ Church Choir, adding a measured sense of scale without overpowering the intimacy of the lyrics. Produced by Parton alongside Kent Wells and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, the track allows each collaborator space while maintaining Parton’s voice as the emotional anchor.
Each featured artist shares a personal or professional story with Parton. Cyrus, her goddaughter, previously collaborated with her in “Rainbowland” and “Wrecking Ball.” McEntire and Parton revisited “Does He Love You” together, while Wilson joined Parton for a Judd tribute recording. Queen Latifah reunites with Parton after their on-screen collaboration in the 2012 film Happy noise.
In addition to this release, Dolly Parton continues to expand her influence across music, publishing and live performance, with projects ranging from her upcoming Songteller Hotel to the touring symphonic experience Threads: My songs in symphony. At 80, this collaboration feels less like a retrospective and more like a reminder of how her songwriting continues to travel forward, carried by voices across generations and genres.
Watch the official music video below:
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