Dolly Parton lends her legendary talents to Zach Williams’ newest single “Lookin’ For You,” accompanied by a brand new music video. This release is part of the extended edition of Zach's 16-track hit album, A Hundred Highways, available now on all digital and streaming platforms. The two previously joined forces in 2020 on the RIAA Platinum Certified and #1 single, “There Was Jesus."
When asked how this new collaboration came to be, Zach shared,
“We were filming Dolly’s Christmas special in 2022, and Dolly asked me what I had been working on. I was about to release the A Hundred Highways album, and I told her that I had this one song that is probably my favorite on the album called 'Lookin’ For You.' I played it through my phone on set for her.”
“And I about fell over when I heard it, I thought it was the best thing,” recounted Dolly. “I told him, ‘Well, there’s another big hit for you! But, did you forget to ask ME to sing on it with you?’” she joked.
However, a few months later she ended up singing on the track, and their second collaboration was locked in.
Recently, American Idol shared the story of contestant McKenna Breinholt, who was adopted as a child, and her journey to meet her birth family. For her Idol audition, she sang the first Zach/Dolly collaboration “There Was Jesus” and was united with her birth family on the show after her audition. Upon seeing the clip that went viral online, Dolly and Zach wished McKenna good luck: “What an awesome thing to see you use our song on American Idol. We’re praying blessings over you and your family,” shared Zach. “We felt like it was a blessing for you to sing it, and I’m sure you felt like it was a blessing to have all your people there. Thanks for thinking of us and for loving the song!“ exclaimed Dolly.
Listen to Dolly and Zach's latest collaboration, "Lookin' For You," featured on the extended edition of A Hundred Highways, now available on all digital and streaming platforms.
Last night at the 63rd GRAMMY® Awards, Zach Williams and Dolly Parton won the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song award for their number 1 hit, “There Was Jesus.” This marks Dolly’s 11th Grammy win, including her Lifetime Achievement Award and MusiCares Person of the Year Award. This is Zach Williams' second GRAMMY win. Dolly said,
“Thank you Jesus, thank you Zach Williams, and thank you to the GRAMMYS and all of our fans. I am very humbled but proud.”
In September, the duet hit number 1 on the following Christian charts: Billboard Airplay, Billboard AC Monitored, Billboard AC Indicator, Mediabase Audience, Mediabase AC Monitored and Mediabase AC Activator. In the earliest stages of this collaboration, Dolly was very touched by the lyrics and said,
“When I heard the song, I thought it was one of the best songs I’d ever heard. I was at that time, wanting to do something more uplifting, and I feel like it was a Godsend.”
See a full list of winners from 83 categories who were honored at the 63rd GRAMMY® Awards.
"There Was Jesus" by Zach Williams and Dolly hit number 1 on the following Christian charts - Billboard Airplay, Billboard AC Monitored, Billboard AC Indicator, Mediabase Audience, Mediabase AC Monitored and Mediabase AC Activator. This leap marks Dolly's first No. 1 in the genre. It also puts her in a category all her own as she is the first artist to have topped the Adult Contemporary, Christian AC Songs, Christian Airplay, Country Airplay and Dance/Mix Show Airplay radio charts. Dolly said,
“Well praise the Lord and thank you Jesus I guess is what I say first. I am just so happy that this has touched the lives of so many people. So proud to be a part of it, so proud of Zach Williams, and we hope that you continue to be blessed by this wonderful song. I know I am.”
The new music video for "There Was Jesus" from GRAMMY Award®-winning artists Zach Williams and Dolly Parton makes its debut today. The single is also now at Christian and Country radio.
Last November, Zach and Dolly shared their stunning duet with the world when they performed "There Was Jesus" at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards. Since their epic performance, the song has gained extraordinary momentum and has become Williams' most consumed song to date along with the title track from his 2019 album, “Rescue Story.”
"When I first heard 'There Was Jesus,' it was one of the best songs I'd ever heard," Parton shares about being featured on the song. She continues, "I loved Zach's voice, and at that time I wanted to do something more uplifting. I felt like it was a Godsend, so I thought yes, this is my record and I'm going to sing with him on it! I'm really proud of how it turned out. I think people are going to get a blessing out of it. I know I have."
Regarding Williams' experience working with Dolly Parton, from recording the song to performing it live on the CMA Awards to ultimately filming the music video, he says,
"Dolly has been a champion since day one of this song. I never thought in a million years this would happen, and the entire experience working with her has truly been an honor and a privilege. I cannot wait to share the song and video with all of you."
For more information, visit ZachWilliamsMusic.com.
Photo Credit: Curtis Hilbun
“Celebrating legendary women in country music” - the resinating theme of "The 53rd Annual CMA Awards" did not disappoint. The opening number of the show could have very easily been mistaken for the finale as it featured one female country legend after another singing some of the genre’s most moving songs.
Dolly, Reba and Carrie brought the crowd to their feet with harmonies as smooth as a new hairdo, when they kicked the show off with “Those Memories.” Of course, Reba and Carrie were channeling their inner Emmylou and Linda as this song was recorded by Dolly, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris in 1987 on their first Trio album. Jennifer Nettles, Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild held the momentum with Loretta Lynn’s “You’re Lookin’ at Country” with Jennifer fittingly recognizing the first woman to win the Entertainer of the Year award sitting on the front row.
The veil lifted on a second section of the stage revealing Dolly and the Highwomen (Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile and Amanda Shires) with Tammy Wynette’s “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad.” From then the hits just kept coming with Tanya Tucker singing her own “Delta Dawn,” Gretchen Wilson with “Redneck Woman” and Crystal Gale and her classic “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” With her guitar, Terri Clark burst into “Better Things To Do” and Sara Evans rose up with “Born to Fly.” The closer, enter Martina McBride, with the consequential women’s empowerment anthem, “Independence Day.”
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Reba, enchanted the crowd with her wardrobe changes while performing her 1991 hit, “Fancy” which didn’t let anybody down. Carrie delivered her jazzy new single, “Drinking Alone.” And Dolly graced the stage with a spiritual number which included her recent collaborations with Zach Williams and for King & Country. She ended with a breath-taking “Have a Little Faith in Me,” her most recent collaboration (with Galantis & Mr. Probz) that landed Dolly her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales Chart.
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At the end of his performance of "God's Country," Blake Shelton hugged fiddle player, Jenee Fleenor, congratulating her on her big win. Earlier in the day, she won Musician of the Year. Jenee was not only the first woman to win this award but also the first woman to receive a nomination in the category in the 53-year history of the CMA Awards.
If you missed the awards, visit cmaawards.com for On-Demand viewing options.
