Blue Smoke

Released in 2014, Blue Smoke serves as a late-career triumph for Dolly Parton, effectively synthesizing her various musical identities. The album leans heavily into Bluegrass and Americana, a return to the roots-oriented sound of her late-90s Sugar Hill trilogy, while maintaining the high-gloss production standards of her mainstream country-pop era. Notable for its eclectic choice of covers, the record features a bluegrass-tinged version of Bob Dylan's Don't Think Twice and a surprising gospel-infused rendition of Bon Jovi's Lay Your Hands on Me. The centerpiece of the album is the title track, which uses train imagery to evoke a sense of movement and departure, and the poignant duet with Kenny Rogers, You Can't Make Old Friends, which serves as a meta-commentary on their long-standing professional and personal relationship. Critically, the album was praised for its energy and the undiminished quality of Parton's vocals, cementing her status as a vital contemporary artist rather than a legacy act.