Dolly Parton’s New Song “Bound to Ride” Released Two Weeks After the Country Legend’s Death
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The country music icon recorded the song in 2022 as a tribute to the legendary bluegrass duo The Stanley Brothers.
Dolly Parton’s music is continuing to reach audiences following her death, with a previously recorded song now being released for the first time.
The country music icon appears on “Bound to Ride,” a traditional bluegrass number featured on Where the Soul Never Dies: Celebrating 80 Years of The Stanley Brothers. The upcoming tribute project honors The Stanley Brothers, the influential bluegrass duo who were posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year.
According to Rolling Stone, the album is scheduled to arrive next month, while Parton’s recording of “Bound to Ride” has been released ahead of the full project.
Parton recorded her vocals for the song in 2022. The track was made famous by The Stanley Brothers through their 1964 recording, which helped establish it as a bluegrass standard.
Unlike most of the album’s performances, which were recorded live in the studio, Parton completed her vocal contribution separately. A rise in COVID cases at the time prompted the “9 to 5” singer to record her part in advance rather than put her health at unnecessary risk.
The recording also brings together the First Ladies of Bluegrass, an all-female group made up of some of the genre’s leading musicians: banjo player Alison Brown, fiddler Becky Buller, mandolin player Sierra Hull, bassist Missy Raines and guitarist Molly Tuttle.
Buller initially recorded a guide vocal in Parton’s place so the country star could hear the appropriate key and work with the musicians remotely while maintaining precautions during the pandemic.
Garry West, the bassist and owner of Compass Records, which is behind the tribute album, described Parton’s contribution as “the full Dolly.” He said the team had no idea what to expect when her recording arrived but was amazed by the quality of her performance.
The musicians were particularly touched by the fact that Parton sang each of their names during the song, according to Rolling Stone.
The release comes shortly after Parton’s death at age 80 on Aug. 25. Representatives for the singer confirmed that she died following a brief battle with cancer.
In a statement, Parton’s representatives remembered her for a career devoted to bringing happiness, hope and generosity to others. They noted that her kindness extended to countless people throughout her life, including many she never personally knew.
Parton died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by family and loved ones, according to her representatives.
Her sister, Stella Parton, later appeared on CBS Mornings on Sept. 10 and discussed Dolly’s decision to keep details about her health private, offering further insight into the final period of the singer’s life.