Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
Funds raised from the new version of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” will benefit pediatric cancer research at Vanderbilt’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.
Dolly Parton Teams Up with Miley Cyrus, Lainey Wilson, Queen Latifah, and Reba McEntire for New Version of Classic Hit
Country music legend Dolly Parton, 79, has collaborated with Miley Cyrus, Lainey Wilson, Queen Latifah, and Reba McEntire on a new rendition of her 1977 hit “Light of a Clear Blue Morning”, released on Friday, Jan. 16.
Reflecting on the song, Parton said, “I wrote ‘Light of a Clear Blue Morning’ during a season when I was searching for hope, and 50 years later that message still feels just as true. As I celebrate my 80th birthday, this new version is my way of using what I’ve been blessed with to shine a little light forward, especially by sharing it with some truly incredible women.”
Parton also shared on Instagram that proceeds from the recording and music video will go toward pediatric cancer research at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. Lainey Wilson, 33, expressed her excitement in the comments, writing: “So excited for y’all to hear this.”
The original “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” appeared on Parton’s 1977 album New Harvest…First Gathering, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and No. 87 on the Hot 100.
Cyrus, 33, previously covered the track during a 2021 Mother’s Day episode of Saturday Night Live in tribute to Parton. The duo has collaborated several times, including “Rainbowland” from Cyrus’ 2017 album Younger Now, “Christmas Is” from Parton’s 2020 album A Holly Dolly Christmas, and a version of Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” for Parton’s 2023 album Rockstar.
This new version also marks Wilson and McEntire’s second collaboration after their work on “Trailblazer” with Miranda Lambert, which is currently nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Parton and Latifah, 55, previously co-starred in the 2012 film Joyful Noise and performed the duet “Not Enough” for its soundtrack.
A longtime supporter of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Parton recently revealed she had been receiving treatments at the hospital after postponing her Las Vegas residency in September. She reassured fans at the time: “Nothing major, but I did have to cancel some things so I could be closer to home, closer to Vanderbilt… where I’m kind of having a few treatments here and there, but I wanted you to know that I’m not dying.”
Parton will celebrate her 80th birthday on Monday, Jan. 19.