Additional Coverage:
- Dolly Parton fans praise ‘delightful’ posthumous track released just days after her death (themirror.com)
Dolly Parton’s musical legacy continues to resonate with fans following her recent passing, marked by the release of her first posthumous recording on Wednesday.
The beloved country icon lends her vocals to “Bound To Ride,” a traditional bluegrass tune originally popularized by the Stanley Brothers in 1964. Parton recorded her part in 2022, shortly after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The track will be featured on the upcoming tribute album Where the Soul Never Dies: Celebrating 80 Years of the Stanley Brothers, set for release on October 16.
During a surge in COVID cases, Parton opted to record in her own studio, minimizing contact and potential risks. She performed her vocals solo, while the main vocals for the song were provided by The First Ladies of Bluegrass-an ensemble including Alison Brown, Becky Buller, Sierra Hull, Missy Raines, and Molly Tuttle. This release comes in the wake of news that Parton was “at peace and ready” in her final days.
The track offers fans a poignant opportunity to hear Parton’s voice once more, reconnecting her music with her Appalachian roots. Raised in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, Parton’s sound was deeply influenced by Appalachian and bluegrass traditions throughout her career. The Stanley Brothers, pioneers of bluegrass music, make “Bound To Ride” a fitting choice for her first posthumous recording.
Social media quickly filled with praise following the song’s release. Fans expressed their admiration, with comments such as “Love it!”
and “Sounds awesome!!! Congrats!”
Other listeners described the track as “Delightful,” “Amazing,” and “A perfect tribute to a life well lived.”
The recording was produced by husband-and-wife duo Garry West and Alison Brown as part of the Stanley Brothers tribute. West praised Parton’s contribution, saying, “I call it the full Dolly.
We didn’t know what we would get back, and she really did over-deliver. We were shocked.
We couldn’t have gotten anything better.”
Parton is one of several notable artists featured on the album, which also includes performances by Willie Nelson, Steve Martin, and Ed Helms.
This new release arrives just two weeks after Parton’s death at age 80. Renowned worldwide not only for her music but also for her philanthropy and long-standing career, Parton leaves behind an extensive musical catalog.
Over her lifetime, she wrote approximately 3,000 songs and recorded around 1,000. Since her passing, her classic hits have seen a resurgence in popularity, with “9 to 5” experiencing a spike in streams and The Very Best Of climbing the UK download charts.