5 Iconic Dolly Parton Songs The CMA Tribute Special Didn’t Include
on
Country music’s brightest stars gathered in Nashville on Wednesday, October 21, to honor Dolly Parton during a tribute concert. The live program aired on ABC and was also available to fans on Disney+.
The night was both emotional and celebratory, with standout performances by Carrie Underwood, Ella Langley, Zac Brown, Vince Gill, and Lainey Wilson.
These artists, and others, performed some of Dolly’s greatest hits, including “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “Islands in the Stream.” The program ended with every performer and presenter joining Carrie onstage for a grand finale performance of “I Will Always Love You.”
RELATED: BRAD PAISLEY & SIERRA HULL HONOR DOLLY PARTON WITH TENDER “WHEN I GET WHERE I’M GOING” DUET
Although the cast did a lovely job honoring Dolly, they only had so much time to do so. The special lasted for just two hours, which means that some of her classic tunes didn’t make the cut.
That is to be expected, considering the length of Dolly’s career and the depth of her catalog. Still, we wanted to highlight 5 iconic Dolly Parton songs that the CMA special didn’t include, so they can get their moment in the spotlight here.
Here Are 5 Songs That No One Sang During The Dolly Parton Tribute Concert
“My Tennessee Mountain Home”
Dolly Parton released “My Tennessee Mountain Home” in 1972, and it served as the title track of her 1973 album. The song captures Dolly’s love for her childhood home in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
“My Tennessee Mountain Home” reached the 15th spot on the Hot Country Songs chart following its release. Although it wasn’t one of her larger hits, the song remained a beloved part of her repertoire, especially among fellow Tennessee natives.
Brad Paisley and Kelsea Ballerini, who performed during the CMA’s televised special, both named the tune as their favorite. So it’s extra surprising that no one ended up singing it that night.
“Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That”
“Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” is a rare song in Dolly’s catalog that she didn’t write herself. It was penned by Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas, and Dolly released it in 1989 as the lead single off her album White Limozeen.
The fun and flirty track reached #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and also claimed the top spot on the country chart in Canada. By the end of 1989, it ranked at #43 on the former chart’s year-end list, and #2 on Canada’s.
Considering its success, it came as a shock that no one sang “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” during the CMA special. It has always been a fan-favorite!
“Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You”
This is yet another iconic Dolly Parton song that, surprisingly, wasn’t written by her. Pebe Sebert and Hugh Moffatt co-wrote “Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You,” which was originally recorded by Joe Sun in 1978. Brian Collins also released a recording that year.
Dolly’s version followed two years later, in 1980. Her rendition was another chart-topper on the Hot Country Songs chart, and also peaked at #2 on Canada’s country chart.
When people refer to “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle To You” these days, they’re most often talking about Dolly’s version. Several artists have recorded the song since, including Foster and Allen, Merle Haggard, and Kesha (whose mother, Pebe Sebert, was one of the song’s co-writers).
Since “Old Flames” has been a country and pop staple for years, it’s somewhat surprising that it wasn’t highlighted during the CMA’s tribute concert.
“Joshua”
“Joshua” was one of the songs that kick-started Dolly Parton’s career. It was released in 1970 as the lead single from her album of the same name.
The track opened a new chapter for Dolly, as it became her first #1 hit. She went on to earn 24 chart-toppers in the decades that followed.
Since “Joshua” was such a huge part of Dolly’s story, we’re sure many viewers were shocked that no one covered it during the CMA’s program.
“Wildflowers”
“Wildflowers” is a song that Dolly Parton wrote, but she didn’t sing it solo. She released it with her famous “Trio” in 1988. That group was comprised of Dolly, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris.
After being released as a single, “Wildflowers” peaked at #6 on the Hot Country Songs chart and #8 on the chart in Canada. It’s no wonder that it performed so well, as the tune about leaving home to chase your dreams resonated with listeners all over the world.
Since “Wildflowers” was such a sweet and sentimental piece of Dolly’s catalog, it was certainly missed during the CMA’s tribute special. But there were still so many moving performances that evening, and you can enjoy one of them below…
