Dolly Parton’s first posthumous song, “Bound to Ride”, has been released nearly two weeks after her death at 80. The track will appear on Where the Soul Never Dies: Celebrating 80 Years of The Stanley Brothers, which is due for release on October 16.
Parton recorded the song in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health precautions meant she recorded her vocals separately from the other musicians.
The First Ladies of Bluegrass supplied the instrumental backing and included Alison Brown, Becky Buller, Sierra Hull, Missy Raines and Molly Tuttle. The group later worked Parton’s vocal into the arrangement.
The musicians based the recording on a traditional song first recorded by the Stanley Brothers in 1964. They also added an eight-bar bridge using another verse from the song.
The album honours Carter and Ralph Stanley, whose work became central to bluegrass music. The brothers performed together from 1946 until 1966.
Garry West, bassist and owner of Compass Records, praised Parton’s contribution and described her performance as exceptional despite the separate recording process.
Parton died in Nashville on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer, according to her representatives. She died surrounded by loved ones.
Her sister Stella Parton later explained why Dolly kept her illness private. Speaking to CBS Mornings, Stella said Dolly “could not bear negative things” and did not want her fans or family members to worry.
Stella also recalled one of their final conversations and said Dolly asked her sister for prayers. She described Dolly as someone who “could dream bigger than anybody”.
Parton recorded more than 3,000 songs during a career spanning more than six decades, according to Reuters. Her best-known recordings include “Jolene”, “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You”.
