Dolly Parton Celebrates Her 80th Birthday
On Monday (January 19), country music legend Dolly Parton celebrated her 80th birthday!
After all these years in the country music industry, Parton continues to be a bright light and gift to the world! She has built an incredibly successful career marked by major achievements in music, film, business, and philanthropy.
With more than 100 million records sold worldwide, Dolly is among the best-selling music artists of all time. Despite her monumental success and international fame, the “Jolene” singer continues to show unwavering devotion to her loyal fans.
Beyond her music, Dolly has an enormous heart for giving. In 1995, she launched the Imagination Library, a global literacy program that provides free books to children from birth to age five. The program has distributed hundreds of millions of books worldwide.
Dolly has also proven herself as a savvy businesswoman, creating numerous ventures, including the Dollywood theme park and a Broadway musical based on her life and music.
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Dolly Releases New Version Of “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning”
Just in time for her 80th birthday, Dolly shared earlier this month (January 13) that she had re-recorded her song, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Dolly recorded the new version alongside a star-studded lineup of female artists, including Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah and Reba McEntire.
She also revealed that “proceeds from this recording and music video will benefit pediatric cancer research at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN.”
Dolly admitted that she wrote the song when she was feeling down and needed a “shining light.”
Dolly Parton Shares A Special Birthday Message
On Tuesday (January 20), Dolly shared a sweet message with fans, thanking them for all of the birthday love and well wishes. The country star said she hopes to “live another 80 years,” joking that she still plans to have her “plastic surgeons in line.”
Dolly also thanked fans for their love on “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” explaining that the only “gift” she wanted this year was to “give” the gift of her friends singing together.
“I think it really lifts us up at this day and time,” Dolly said of the song. “…and the Lord knows we could use that, right.”
You can listen to “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” below.
We are wishing Dolly a very happy and healthy 80th birthday celebration!