Dolly Parton puts her stamp on a Christmastime classic with “Mary, Did You Know?,” the closing track on her upcoming A Holly Dolly Christmas.
Re-imagining the Christian standard like only she can, Parton adds her distinctive vocal warble and all the faithful spirit she can muster, basking in the musical majesty of the immaculate conception. Meanwhile, an orchestra and gospel choir are used with tasteful reservation to back the country legend up, and she finishes the tune with a spoken-word bridge and powerful, soul-shouting crescendo. Out now, it will also arrive as part of A Holly Dolly Christmas on October 2.
“‘Mary, Did You Know?’ is one of the greatest, sweetest, well-written songs that I’ve ever had the chance to sing on,” Parton says of the track. “When I was recording it, I got very emotional. It is to me what Christmas is about and I’m proud to be able to sing it for my upcoming album.”
A Holly Dolly Christmas is Parton’s first Christmas album in 30 years, featuring a mix of holiday classics and original tracks written or co-written by Parton herself. Special guests on the project include Michael Bublé, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon and Willie Nelson, plus her brother, Randy Parton.
Pre-orders for the set are available now, and Parton will also release her latest book, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, on November 17.
A Holly Dolly Christmas Track Listing:
