Dolly Parton's First Posthumous Song Released, With More Projects Still To Come

Dolly Parton's voice is still finding new ways to reach the world. Weeks after her death, the country icon's first posthumous song has been released, a tribute to the bluegrass legends who helped shape the genre she loved.

Dolly Parton may be gone, but she’s still singing a new tune. The late icon’s new posthumous song has been released, and it’s a tribute to a popular singing group.

Dolly Parton attends the "Dolly: An Original Musical" fireside chat and press conference on January 28, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee | Source: Getty Images

Parton’s posthumous song, “Bound to Ride,” is one of the tracks included in the tribute album honoring the Stanley Brothers. "Where the Soul Never Dies: Celebrating 80 Years of The Stanley Brothers" is due for release on October 16 and also features songs from Willie Nelson and Sierra Ferrell, Jamey Johnson and Shawn Camp, Dierks Bentley, and several other artists.

The Stanley Brothers, Carter and Ralph Stanley, started their band in the mid 1940s, with music that combined string-band sound, mountain ballads, and church music. Producers behind the tribute album hope the project introduces the music of the Stanley Brothers to a new generation, especially given their influence on country, bluegrass, and Americana artists.

Ralph Stanley and Carter Stanley, also known as the Stanley Brothers posing for a Mercury Records portrait in circa 1954 | Source: Getty Images

“Bound to Ride,” a song popularized by the Stanley Brothers in 1964, was recorded by Parton back in 2022, when COVID-19 was still surging. She recorded alone in her studio, singing over the music track that the all-female bluegrass group First Ladies of Bluegrass had already recorded separately.

Garry West, the album’s producer, told Rolling Stone he was so impressed with Parton's performance that he called it the “full Dolly,” saying, "She really did over-deliver. We were shocked. We couldn’t have gotten anything better." Parton even called out each of the First Ladies of Bluegrass’ names during the recording, which moved them.

Parton's posthumous song is just one of several projects she had been working on before she died on August 25 at the age of 80.

“Dolly worked up until the day she died,” her manager, Danny Nozell, told Entertainment Weekly. “She loved seeing her dreams come to life, and loved knowing her work brought people joy.”

According to Nozell, Parton had mapped out her projects and even handpicked the team who would see them through, even long after she’s gone.

At the time of her death, there were 10 projects in development, set for release through 2027. These include Dolly Dolls, a coffee brand called Dolly's Cup of Ambition, a hotel and museum in Nashville, and a stage musical based on her life to premiere in January 2027.

Nozell assured that any future releases will reflect Parton’s involvement and wishes. Their goal is to implement what Parton had already planned and not to come up with new ideas.