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Dolly Parton's First Posthumous Track 'Bound to Ride' Is Released

It reconnects her to bluegrass roots, signaling ongoing estate-managed releases with a full Stanley Brothers tribute due Oct. 16.

Overview

  • The single, which was released Sept. 9, is credited to Dolly Parton & The First Ladies of Bluegrass and is the lead track from the tribute album Where the Soul Never Dies.
  • Parton recorded her vocal around 2022 in her private studio during a COVID surge while the First Ladies of Bluegrass laid down the backing track separately.
  • Producer Garry West said Parton’s submitted take “over‑delivered,” and listeners hear her playful ad‑libs and name checks of the musicians on the released cut.
  • Compass Records will release the full all‑star Stanley Brothers tribute on Oct. 16 and the album features mostly live studio recordings from artists including Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Dierks Bentley and Steve Martin.
  • Her estate continues to manage legacy projects, with planned future releases and at least one archived unreleased song, 'My Place in History,' set to be unveiled from a Dollywood lockbox on Jan. 19, 2046.