Dolly Parton celebrates her birthday week with another hit record. Dolly, whose span of Billboard chart hits now covers 60 years, sees the new version of her classic hit "Light Of A Clear Blue Morning" (featuring Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah & Reba McEntire) debut at #41 on the Billboard Country Airplay, earning Hot Shot Debut honors for the highest debut song of the week. The song is also this week’s Most Increased In Airplay (+1,810 spins) generating 2.5 million listener impressions.
"This is the best gift I could receive! I want to thank the fans, all the radio programmers, and all the streaming partners," exclaims Dolly. "When I first started thinking about something special to do for my 80th birthday, I thought, 'Lord, please give me a song – or something – to make the birthday special…to be a gift from me to other people for my birthday.' When we were working on songs for my new museum in Nashville, 'Light Of A Clear Blue Morning' came on, and I went, 'Oh! That’s it!'"
Dolly & Friends also blast onto the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart at #1. The music video for the single has been viewed more than 5 million times on YouTube and Facebook. The song also is receiving global embrace, with adds and features highlighted across numerous BBC Radio platforms in the UK. "Light Of A Clear Blue Morning" debuts Top 10 on the UK’s Official Charts Digital Single Sales tally.
Country radio embraced this single in a big way, with the track becoming one of the week’s Most Added songs. With broad support from iHeartMedia, Audacy Radio, and Townsquare Media, official playlisted adds came from KKGO/Los Angeles, KKBQ/Houston, WPGB/Pittsburgh, KAWO/Boise, WCOL/Columbus, KSD/St. Louis, WCOS/Columbia, WEZL/Charleston, WKSJ/Mobile, WQIK/Jacksonville, WSSL/Greenville, KXKS/Shreveport, WUSJ/Jackson, and Music Choice.
Dolly’s first appearance on Billboard’s charts came as a songwriter 60 years ago. "Put It Off Until Tomorrow", cowritten with her Uncle Bill Owens, was recorded by Decca Records artist Bill Phillips and released in January 1966. First cracking the Billboard Hot Country Songs in April 1966, the song eventually peaked at #6 on the chart. Dolly is featured as an uncredited special guest vocalist on the single, which also brought the singer-songwriter the first of many BMI Awards as a Song of the Year in 1966.
In keeping with the spirit of giving that has defined her career, net proceeds from the new version of "Light Of A Clear Blue Morning" and its accompanying music video will benefit the pediatric cancer research program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee, a longtime partner and cause close to Parton’s heart. This single is released on Dolly's own Butterfly Records, with distribution via Virgin Music Group.
In celebration of her milestone 80th birthday on January 19, 2026, global superstar Dolly Parton just released a powerful new rendition of her classic hit, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” featuring Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah, and Reba McEntire on the 50th anniversary of writing the song. The single and music video, which also features David Foster on piano and The Christ Church Choir on backing vocals, is out today, just days before her birthday. This recording reimagines the song with a message of spreading love and hope.
Originally written and recorded 50 years ago in 1976 during a period of personal transition and renewed optimism, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” has long stood as one of Dolly’s most inspirational works. Now, five decades later, Dolly revisits the song for a new generation with a powerhouse lineup of female voices.
"I wrote 'Light of a Clear Blue Morning' during a season when I was searching for hope, and fifty years later that message still feels just as true," Dolly says. "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."
In keeping with the spirit of giving that has defined her career, net proceeds from the song and its accompanying music video will benefit the pediatric cancer research program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee, a longtime partner and cause close to Dolly’s heart.
Written by Dolly Parton, produced by Dolly Parton alongside Kent Wells, and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, this new rendition also features the legendary David Foster on piano and includes backing vocals by The Christ Church Choir.
The release marks not only a celebration of Dolly’s extraordinary life and legacy, but also a continuation of her lifelong commitment to using music as a force for good.
Get ready, everyone! —Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol and all its musical magic is coming to a stage near you. The 2025 national tour will light up more than 20 cities across the country with a show that celebrates the human spirit.
This heartwarming holiday show of second chances tells Dickens’ A Christmas Carol through a Tennessee lens. Set in the Great Smoky Mountains in the 1930s, the show features Dolly’s original music and Appalachian melodies alongside a story bursting with heart. The cast and live band — 22 talented performers from L.A., NYC, Nashville, Memphis, and beyond — bring this holiday story to life, led by Ken Orman as the miserly Scrooge.
“Singing Dolly’s music is a kind of magic,” says Orman. “The songs just feel honest and so full of heart as only Dolly could have imagined them.”
But even Scrooge isn’t immune to the show’s emotional pull. “There’s a moment between Young Scrooge and his sister that hit me hard in rehearsal. I felt like I was watching my own kids, and the music is so moving. I had to remind myself — ‘Scrooge can’t be getting weepy!’ But honestly? That demonstrates the power of this story.”
Audiences will leave the performance with more than a catchy tune in their heads.
“This show is all about the power of unconditional love—even the smallest heart can change the world. That’s the kind of message Dolly believes in, and I’m proud to help share it.”
Check the tour dates, grab your loved ones, and come experience why Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol is the newest holiday tradition. We’ll save you a seat by the fireplace.
Tickets are on sale now. For tour dates and more information, visit www.smokymountainchristmascarol.com.
In a move set to redefine the travel center experience across the Southeast and beyond, Dolly Parton is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the team behind the Tennessean Travel Stop, to rebrand and revitalize its flagship Cornersville, Tennessee location under a new name by early Summer 2026: Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop.
"I have spent the bulk of my life on the road, and more specifically on a bus," says Dolly. "All the years spent visiting greasy spoon cafes, truck stops, and roadside pit stops have given me an understanding of what traveler’s desire on the road. Whether you are driving a truck, a bus, or a car, you want a place that feels like home and recharges you for the rest of your journey. I believe we will fill a void out there on the highways, all while bringing the heart and soul of Tennessee."
The collaboration unites the trusted Tennessean Travel Stop brand—known for quality service and regional roots—with the cultural reach and unmistakable Tennessee spirit of Dolly Parton. The first rebranded location will serve as both a proof of concept and flagship for future sites planned under the Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stops banner. Additional locations across Tennessee and beyond are set to be announced in 2026.
Pictured above: Gregory H. Sachs, Chairman/CEO Sachs Capital Group & Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stops; Dolly Parton; Danny Nozell, Founder/CEO CTK Enterprises & Dolly’s Manager
While the partners are keeping specific design details under wraps until the official unveiling, the venture is already moving through the necessary permitting and partnership phases, setting the stage for expansion across key travel corridors in the coming years.
"The Tennessean has long been a 'home away from home' for truck drivers, travelers, and locals alike. Our roots in this community run deep—we’ve created jobs, built connection, and welcomed generations of people through our doors," said Gregory H. Sachs, Chairman/CEO of the Tennessean Travel Stop and Sachs Capital Group. "This new partnership allows us to carry that legacy forward in a way that celebrates everything special about Tennessee.
"Together with Dolly and her team, we’re reimagining what a travel stop can be—transforming it into a warm, inviting destination where everyone feels welcome to slow down, kick up their feet, and stay awhile."
The flagship location, which will remain open under renovation, will introduce an evolved travel experience that integrates modern amenities, curated dining, and authentic regional retail with the approachable comfort travelers expect from both brands.
"Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stops will be more than a place to refuel — it’s about recharging the spirit," said Danny Nozell, CEO of CTK Enterprises and Dolly's long-time manager. "This project reflects Dolly’s love for her home state and her commitment to supporting local business, community, and the travelers who keep America moving."
The partnership also signals a strategic investment in regional development, combining hospitality, retail, and entertainment elements to strengthen Tennessee’s tourism and infrastructure landscape.
Further announcements regarding opening timelines, design partners, and expansion markets are expected in the coming months as plans progress. For more information visit www.dollystravelstops.com.
Following Songteller (lyrics) and Behind the Seams (fashion)— Dolly Parton shares a definitive look at her career as one of the world's most dazzling and beloved performers. Star of the Show: My Life on Stage shows readers why Dolly is at the pinnacle of success seven decades into her career.
Star of the Show: My Life on Stage chronicles Dolly’s early years singing for her family, her formative years with Country legend Porter Wagoner, and her decision to break out on her own, garnering her first million-selling song with “Here You Come Again”. From making her onscreen debut in the blockbuster film 9 to 5, to becoming a household name via television variety series & specials, and other feature films, her entire performance journey is documented. Most impressively, Dolly’s status as a global touring headliner from 2006 to present is solidified, with her most successful tours taking her around the world, and into sold-out arenas and stadiums. From her unforgettable 2023 Dallas Cowboys halftime show performance in front of 42 million people, to details of her brand empire, readers will see why Dolly holds the #1 QScore, as the world’s most beloved performer. Along the way, Dolly shares the stage with Kenny Rogers, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, and others.
“I’m so proud that I’ve been able to spend the last 70 plus years doing what I feel I was born to do...singing, writing, and performing. Even prouder that I’ve been able to do it with and for my fans. God bless you everyone." – Dolly Parton
Brimming with Dolly's trademark wit and heartfelt sincerity, Star of the Show: My Life on Stage is not only an homage to one of history’s most cherished artists, but also a must-have collector's item for—and love letter to—any fan of the one and only Dolly Parton. Fans have also enjoyed excerpts from the book via Dolly's brand new profiles on Substack and Threads.
A deluxe edition of the stunning celebration of Dolly Parton’s iconic career as a performer will also be published simultaneously by Ten Speed Press. It will feature the 500 extraordinary images and eight-page gatefold list of performances from the original edition, as well as exclusive features, including:
• Gilded edges
• Gorgeous, redesigned cover with upgraded special effects
• Satin ribbon marker
• Three 8" x 10" Star of the Show–themed full-color prints enclosed in an envelope
An audio version, read by Dolly, will be published simultaneously by Penguin Random House Audio. This dazzling celebration of Dolly Parton’s legendary career comes to life like never before in a one-of-a-kind audiobook experience. Star of the Show: My Life on Stage invites listeners into Dolly’s world, with the Queen of Country herself as their guide. Narrated in her warm, unmistakable voice, the audiobook features more than 50 beloved songs, rare archival recordings, and fan stories recorded especially for—and available exclusively in—the audiobook. From her earliest performances for family and neighbors to her unforgettable Grand Ole Opry debut and beyond, Dolly’s journey unfolds with the intimacy and vibrance of a front-row seat. Immersive, heartfelt, and deeply personal, this audiobook isn’t just a tribute—it’s the ultimate Dolly Parton experience and a must-have treasure for every fan.
Star of the Show: My Life on Stage by Dolly Parton with Tom Roland is available now for purchase wherever books are sold.
