After almost 50 years, the singer returns with a new version of this song, recorded with a very special group: Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah, and Reba McIntire. It is not just a return to the past, but also a musical dialogue between women from different generations. What’s worth mentioning is that Parton’s goddaughter (Miley Cyrus) actually covered this song before - on Saturday Night Live in 2021. Additional significance to this project is given by its charity cause - all proceeds support pediatric cancer research at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee.
The new rendition of the song starts with Dolly talking about "living in troubled and uncertain times" and that "we can’t let the darkness win". It is a direct invitation to believe in a brand-new, better start - lyrics that remain very relevant to this day. It is a song about hope, patience, and a strong belief that after every storm, peace will always come in the end. Refreshed, ‘Light of a Clear Blue Morning’ is based on collaboration, not competition. None of the artists tries to dominate the song - their voices intertwine naturally, leading the listener towards a joint choral finale. This moment almost sounds like a hymn - simple, uplifting, giving a feeling that the light is closer than we might think.
In the context of Dolly Parton’s 80th birthday (January 19th), the rendition of the song sounds like a summary of her path: "...this new version is my way of using what I’ve been blessed with to shine a little light forward". To all of the listeners, this revived song might be a powerful kick-off to 2026.
The music video for the new version of ‘Light of a Clear Blue Morning’ is available on YouTube.
Paulina Pasturczak
Image: 'Light of a Clear Blue Morning' Official Single Cover
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