Dolly Parton Turns 80, Gives Tennessee a Birthday Gift

Dolly Parton just turned 80, and instead of accepting gifts, she's giving them away.

The Queen of Country marked her milestone birthday this Monday with a reimagined version of her 1977 classic "Light of a Clear Blue Morning." She recruited powerhouse voices including Miley Cyrus, Lainey Wilson, Queen Latifah, and Reba McIntyre to join her on the track.

"I wrote 'Light of a Clear Blue Morning' during a season when I was searching for hope, and 50 years later that message still feels just as true," Parton said in a statement. "As I celebrate my 80th birthday, this new version is my way of using what I've been blessed with to shine a little light forward."

Every dollar from the single goes directly to pediatric cancer research at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital in Nashville. It's classic Dolly, turning a personal celebration into support for children fighting the hardest battle of their lives.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee made the occasion official by declaring January 19th "Dolly Parton Day" across the state. "Dolly Parton's life and career is woven into Tennessee's music, culture, and rich history," Lee said, honoring "the life, legacy, and extraordinary contributions of Tennessee's favorite daughter."

The Ripple Effect

Parton's generosity extends far beyond one birthday charity single. Since 1988, her Dollywood Foundation has grown into a global literacy movement through the Imagination Library program.

The foundation now sends more than three million books each month to children worldwide. In 2017, she donated her 100 millionth book to the Library of Congress.

She's also led disaster relief efforts across America, most recently helping communities recover from Hurricane Helene in 2024. Last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded her an Honorary Oscar for her humanitarian work, and Time magazine named her to their "TIME100 Philanthropy List."

At 80, Parton shows no signs of slowing down her mission to make the world brighter through music and charity. Her latest birthday gift proves that hope never goes out of style.