Dolly Parton's first posthumous song, "Born To Ride," has been released two weeks after her death, featuring her distinctive vocals alongside the First Ladies of Bluegrass band. The track, a cover song, is set to appear on the upcoming tribute album "Where the Soul Never Dies: Celebrating 80 Years of The Stanley Brothers," which is scheduled for release next week.
Parton recorded her vocals for "Born To Ride" approximately four years ago, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Music producer Garry West, who worked on the tribute album, told Rolling Stone that Parton "over-delivered" on the recording. "We couldn't have gotten anything better," West stated.
In the recording, Parton introduces each member of the First Ladies of Bluegrass before they each perform an instrumental solo. The tribute album also features contributions from artists such as Willie Nelson, Billy Strings, Jamey Johnson, and Dierks Bentley.
Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80, following a "brief battle with cancer," according to a statement from her representatives to People. Her death followed months of health issues that led her to withdraw from public appearances. She had been admitted to Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center on August 21 for autoimmune and kidney issues, according to TMZ.
Shortly before her death, Parton told People she had "so many things I want to achieve," including the launch of a new hotel and museum in Nashville. In the days following her passing, her official Instagram page shared a quote from her 1977 song "Light of a Clear Blue Morning," accompanied by a blue butterfly emoji, her personal emblem. The post conveyed a message of reassurance, stating, "everything's gonna be alright, it's gonna be okay."
