Butterfly Wings

Butterfly Wings is my heartfelt tribute to Dolly Parton — an artist, songwriter, storyteller, and human being whose music has touched generations.

The song was inspired in part by Dolly speaking about her butterfly wings being tired and needing to rest. That image stayed with me. The butterfly has long been such a beautiful symbol associated with Dolly — freedom, transformation, gentleness, and the courage to keep flying.

Throughout "Butterfly Wings" I included loving references to some of the songs that helped make her story part of ours: "Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” and “9 to 5.” They are small musical nods to an extraordinary lifetime of songs that have made us laugh, cry, dream, and believe in ourselves.

Butterfly Wings was written simply to say "Thank you" for the music, the memories, the kindness, and the light Dolly has shared with the world.

And when those butterfly wings grow tired, may they always find a beautiful place to rest.

I had the pleasure of meeting Josh, who made a wonderful gift for me, for You Gave Your Tomorrows- A Tribute for Fallen First Responders. In talking to him and learning his story, I wrote The Man You Chose to Be, for Josh, as a way of saying thank you, not only for what he made for me, but for realizing his life was on the wrong path, and he chose to be the man he is today for his family.