Dolly Parton’s 1st Posthumous Song Debuts, And It Honors Another Artist
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Two weeks after she passed away on August 25, Dolly Parton‘s first posthumous song has been released.
The song debuted on Wednesday (September 9), and it serves as a tribute to another iconic artist. Titled “Bound to Ride,” the track is featured on the collaborative album Where the Soul Never Dies: Celebrating 80 Years of The Stanley Brothers.
The Stanley Brothers were a bluegrass duo comprised of brothers Carter and Ralph Stanley. The pair performed together from the 1940s through the 1960s, until Carter died at age 41 in 1966. Ralph continued performing as a solo act under the Stanley Brothers name until his passing in 2016.
The Stanley Brothers will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year as the “Veterans Era” artist for 2026. Their classmates are Tim McGraw (Modern Era Artist) and Paul Overstreet (Songwriter).
RELATED: DOLLYWOOD REVEALS PLANS TO HONOR DOLLY PARTON’S LIFE & LEGACY
The Country Music Hall of Fame has not announced when its induction ceremony will be held, but the event usually occurs in October. That lines up perfectly with the release of Where the Soul Never Dies. According to Billboard, the album will be released on October 16.
However, you don’t have to wait that long to hear Dolly Parton’s contribution to the record.
Listen To Dolly Parton Pay Tribute To The Stanley Brothers With “Born To Ride”
Dolly’s recording of “Bound to Ride” also features a talented group of musicians billed as “The First Ladies of Bluegrass.” That group includes Alison Brown (banjo), Becky Buller (fiddle), Sierra Hull (mandolin), Missy Raines (bass), and Molly Tuttle (guitar).
Rolling Stone premiered the song on September 9. The outlet reports that Dolly recorded her vocals in her personal studio in 2022.
You can listen to that recording below, followed by one of the Stanley Brothers’ recordings of the same track.
Where the Soul Never Dies will feature a total of 12 tracks. Some of the standout pieces include Jamey Johnson and Shawn Camp performing “Rank Strangers to Me,” and Dierks Bentley and Della Mae’s recording of “How Mountain Girls Can Love.”
Also, Track #5 is Willie Nelson and Sierra Ferrell’s version of the beloved hymn “I’ll Fly Away.” The song was written by esteemed songwriter Albert E. Brumley, who also wrote “If We Never Meet Again,” the song Dolly Parton wanted played at her funeral.
See the complete tracklist for Where the Soul Never Dies below. We can’t wait to hear the rest of the record!
Where the Soul Never Dies: Celebrating 80 Years of The Stanley Brothers Tracklist
- “If I Lose” – Billy Strings & Drew Emmitt
- “Bound to Ride” – Dolly Parton & The First Ladies of Bluegrass (Alison Brown, Becky Buller, Sierra Hull, Missy Raines, Molly Tuttle)
- “Rank Strangers to Me”- Jamey Johnson & Shawn Camp
- “Riding That Midnight Train” – Jim Lauderdale & The Traveling McCourys
- “I’ll Fly Away” – Willie Nelson & Sierra Ferrell
- “Mother No Longer Awaits Me at Home” – Ralph Stanley II & Tim O’Brien with The Clinch Mountain Boys
- “Think of What You’ve Done” – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Alison Brown
- “Little Birdie” – Rhiannon Giddens & Dirk Powell
- “How Mountain Girls Can Love” – Dierks Bentley & Della Mae
- “Pardon Me, Stranger” – Steve Martin & Ed Helms with Alison Brown
- “Ralph’s Banjo Special” – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt, Alison Brown
- “Going Up Home to Live in Green Pastures” – I’m With Her (Aoife O’Donovan, Sarah Jarosz, Sara Watkins)
