Dolly Parton has recorded a new version of Light of a Clear Blue Morning with a group of “very special women”.
The country legend has laid down a new version of the 1977 track with Reba McEntire, Queen Latifah, Lainey Wilson and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus to raise money for paediatric cancer research at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee.
In a video posted on Instagram, Dolly explained: “Well hey there it’s Dolly and I’m really exited to share my brand new video Light of A Clear Blue Morning.
“Now, I first wrote this song back in 1976 when I needed a little hope. This time around, I’ve invited some very special women, some real shining lights, to help me bring that hope to life again, and I can’t wait for you to hear what we’ve created together.”
The song featured on Dolly’s 1977 album New Harvest … First Gathering.
It was previously dusted off by Cyrus for a performance on Saturday Night Live over Mother’s Day weekend in 2021 with the pop star dedicating the track to her godmother Dolly and her mom Tish Cyrus.
Dolly previously credited the song with helping her move on following the collapse of her professional relationship with late singer Porter Wagoner.
In her 2020 book, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, Dolly wrote: “I felt like I was trapped in a situation and needed to be free, because God was calling me, life was calling me, to something bigger.
“When I finally said, ‘I have to go,’ I remember walking out the door of Porter’s office that day. As I was driving back to my home with [my husband] Carl in Brentwood, I was thinking: ‘It’s been a long, dark night.’ I was almost to Brentwood, and all of a sudden the clouds started parting and the sun was coming out. I thought: ‘Well, if that ain’t a sign, I don’t know what is’.
“I started saying the song’s words. By the time I got home, I pretty much had the song done, in my head.”
It comes after Dolly admitted she won’t be attending her upcoming 80th birthday celebration at the Grand Old Opry.
The 9 to 5 hitmaker – who has been out of the public eye dealing with “health challenges” for some time – will reach the milestone age on 19 January and in honour of her special day, the iconic Nashville venue will mark her birthday for the fourth year in a row with a special concert on 17 January.
But Dolly has confirmed she won’t be there to see the likes of Lainey Wilson, Vince Gill, Rhonda Vincent, and Trannie Anderson pay tribute to her.
She said in a video message shared on the Grand Ole Opry’s Instagram account: “I just wanted to say how much it means to me that you’re all coming together again this year to celebrate my big old birthday with some of my songs.
“Some of my favourite memories happened right here, onstage at the Grand Ole Opry. I wish I could be there in person, but I’ll be sending you all my love for sure, so you have the best night ever.”
A spokesperson for the Jolene singer insisted Dolly had “never” planned to be at the event.