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.
From her early days on "The Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour" to her record-breaking hits and beyond, Dolly Parton has been an ambassador of optimism. A trait she likely inherited from her grandfather, Reverend Jake Owens*. Like his renowned sermons, many of Dolly's songs carry a similar message of faith and inspiration.
"Everything’s going to be all right that’s been all wrong." Dolly penned these words in her song "Light of a Clear Blue Morning." It came to her while driving home from one of her last business meetings with Porter Wagoner. As many know, Dolly wrote what would become her signature anthem, “I Will Always Love You,” as a farewell to her singing partner and dear friend when their business relationship ended. In contrast, "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" was a revelation of clarity and a promise of a brighter tomorrow. A message that she has shared across the globe in all aspects of her career. About the song, Dolly said,
"It was my song of deliverance. It was my song of freedom, and I knew that God was in it. I knew that I was free. And when the Lord has set you free ‘Ye are free indeed.'"
During Easter celebrations, Dolly’s live performance of "He’s Alive" from the 1989 CMA awards is widely shared on social media. She recorded it on her 1989 certified Gold album, "White Limozeen." The song won Don Francisco two 1980 Dove awards for Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
During her 2016 Pure & Simple tour, Dolly closed her show with a simple message of love and acceptance. In addition to the four staples of her Imagination Library (Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More) she encouraged people to pray more with "Hello God."
In 2002, Dolly, backed by The Christ Church Choir of Nashville, performed “Hello God” at the 36th annual CMA awards in Nashville, TN.
The inspirational message of "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" is as relevant today as it was in 1977. Its message of hope for a brighter tomorrow will continue to uplift audiences at Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures. Dolly re-recorded the song for her new dinner theatre attraction opening in Pigeon Forge, TN, in May.
"Light of a Clear Blue Morning" by Dolly Parton first appeared on her 1977 release "New Harvest…First Gathering." Also, it is one of 10 original songs on the 1992 Hollywood Pictures movie soundtrack "Straight Talk." Additionally, it's on Dolly’s 38th solo album, "For God and Country" released on Veterans Day in 2003.
Dolly released "He’s Alive" by Don Francisco on her 29th solo album "White Limozeen" in May 1989.
“Hello God” by Dolly Parton was released as a single on her 37th studio album, "Halos & Horns" in 2002.
*Dolly’s grandfather, Reverend Jake Owens, inspired "Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man." She co-wrote the song with her Aunt Dorothy Jo and it appeared on Dolly and Porter’s fifth duet album, "Once More." It is also part of the 2014 Dolly and Porter box set "Just Between You And Me." Listen to a vintage recording of Rev. Jake preaching and a church singing "This Little Light of Mine" featuring Dolly’s vocals.
