A previously unreleased Dolly Parton recording, “Bound to Ride,” has been published two weeks after the country singer’s death at the age of 80.
The track was issued as a single ahead of a tribute album to the American bluegrass duo The Stanley Brothers. As DR reports, Parton recorded the song four years ago, and it had remained in a record studio until now. The full album is not due out until next month.
On the single, Parton is joined by the all-female ensemble First Ladies of Bluegrass. The album was produced by bassist Garry West and his wife, banjo player Alison Brown, who also produced Parton’s contribution.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, West described the recording as the complete Dolly. He said the producers did not know what they would receive, and that Parton delivered more than they had hoped for.
Rolling Stone reports that “Bound to Ride” was released on September 9, 2026, making it Parton’s first posthumous single. The magazine notes that the song is a traditional number long associated with the bluegrass repertoire.
According to the same reporting, Parton recorded her vocals in her own studio around 2022, during a surge in Covid-19 cases. The First Ladies of Bluegrass had cut the backing track separately. The release was also covered by USA Today.
The Stanley Brothers connection
The Stanley Brothers consisted of siblings Carter and Ralph Stanley. Per DR, the duo was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2026. Parton received the same honor in 1999.
The tribute album gathers recordings made in honor of the pair. Parton’s track was intended for that project from the outset, rather than for her own catalog.
Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80, after a short illness with cancer. DR reports that she died following a brief battle with the disease.
Over the course of her career, Parton released more than 49 studio albums, along with over 100 compilation albums and other collaborations. In 2024, Billboard named her the greatest country singer of all time, placing her ahead of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.
Parton also performed in Copenhagen during her career, and Danish audiences followed her work across five decades. Her death was confirmed by her family in late August.
