Dolly Parton Drops New Music to Mark Her 80th Birthday

WASHINGTON — Dolly Parton is celebrating her 80th birthday with new music. The country music legend released a new version of her 1977 single "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" over the weekend ahead of her 80th birthday. The song features Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah, Lainey Wilson and Reba McEntire and came with a new music video. Parton announced proceeds from the song and video will go to pediatric cancer research at a children's hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. "I wrote this song during a season when I was searching for hope, and fifty years later that message still feels just as true," Parton said on Instagram. "As I celebrate my 80th birthday, this new version is my way of using what I’ve been blessed with to shine a little light forward, especially by sharing it with some truly incredible women." On Monday, Parton celebrated her birthday with a massive butterfly cake and shared photos on social media. Parton was scheduled to attend a birthday celebration over the weekend at the Grand Ole Opry on Jan. 17, but the "9 to 5" singer canceled her appearance. Wilson and McEntire were in attendance, as were other country stars. "Some of my favorite memories happened right here on stage at the grand ol' Opry," Parton said on Instagram on Jan. 9. "I wish I could be there in person, but I'll be sending you all my love for sure. So, you have the best night ever." While she didn't explain why she wouldn't be attending, Parton's health has been a concern for fans over the past few months, as she skipped events she was previously scheduled to attend. In October, she revealed she was dealing with some health issues, prompting her to postpone her Las Vegas residency. In an Oct. 8 Instagram video, she set the record straight on rumors about how she was doing. "Lately, everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick?” Parton said at the time. “I wanted you to know that I’m not dying.” She said she had neglected her health while she took care of her late husband Carl Dean, who died in 2025 at 82. Parton said at the time that she canceled a few things to stay closer to home and stay closer to the Vanderbilt Hospital, where she said she is undergoing treatments "here and there."