Little Big Town Delivers a Moving Performance of Dolly Parton’s “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” at CMA Tribute
Little Big Town paid a heartfelt tribute to Dolly Parton with a beautiful rendition of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” honoring both the country icon’s musical legacy and the personal bond they shared with her.
The performance took place during CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, a two-hour television special that aired live on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from Belmont University’s Fisher Center.
Announced by the Country Music Association just weeks after Parton’s death on August 25, the event brought together some of music and entertainment’s biggest names to celebrate her life and career.
A Star-Studded Celebration of Dolly Parton’s Legacy
The special featured archival footage, personal stories from people who knew Dolly, and performances spanning country music, bluegrass and Broadway.
The impressive lineup included Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Lainey Wilson, Amy Grant, Kristen Bell, Ashley McBryde, Zac Brown, Sierra Hull, Lukas Nelson, Ella Langley, Belmont Singers, Kelsea Ballerini, Molly Tuttle, Béla Fleck, Carly Pearce, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Lady A, Darius Rucker, Kristin Chenoweth and Little Big Town.
For Little Big Town, the evening carried a particularly personal meaning. Dolly was more than an influential artist they admired from afar — she was also a friend with whom they had shared the stage on several occasions.
One of their most memorable collaborations came at the 2019 Grammy Awards, when the group joined Dolly for an all-star musical tribute.
A Friendship That Extended Beyond the Stage
The connection between Dolly and Little Big Town was especially meaningful to Kimberly Schlapman, who named her daughter after the country legend.
In 2017, Kimberly and her husband adopted a little girl and named her Dolly Grace. Whenever the singer encountered the child, she would affectionately ask, “How’s my Dolly?”
The sweet interaction offered a glimpse into the warmth behind Dolly’s public image and the lasting relationships she built throughout her career.
That history made Little Big Town’s appearance at the CMA celebration especially poignant, as the group honored someone who had influenced their music and become part of their personal lives.
The Meaning Behind “Light of a Clear Blue Morning”
For the tribute, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook performed Dolly’s “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” a country-pop ballad first released in 1977 on her album New Harvest… First Gathering.
The song arrived during a significant turning point in Dolly’s career. Following her professional separation from Porter Wagoner, she faced a lengthy and complicated legal battle with her former musical partner while moving forward independently.
Against that backdrop, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” became associated with the possibility of brighter days ahead — a theme that has helped the song remain meaningful to listeners over the years.
Dolly returned to the song several times, recording it on four occasions. Her most recent version was released in January 2026, when she joined Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah and Reba McEntire on a new recording to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
Little Big Town Honors an Artist Who Meant So Much to Them
Standing together onstage, all four members of Little Big Town delivered their interpretation of the beloved song, bringing their harmonies to a tribute rooted in admiration, friendship and shared musical history.
Their performance served as a reminder that Dolly’s influence reached far beyond her own recordings. For artists such as Little Big Town, her legacy was shaped not only by the songs she wrote and performed, but also by the personal connections she formed along the way.
With “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” the group honored a song that reflected a pivotal chapter in Dolly’s life while celebrating the enduring impact she had on their own.
The performance became one of the evening’s heartfelt moments, offering a musical tribute to a country legend whose songs and relationships continue to resonate with generations of artists and fans.