New Country Artists Who Can Help Carry The Songs of Dolly Parton Forward
During the recent Dolly Parton tribute televised on ABC, one thing became patently clear: The current crop of mainstream country stars are not exactly equipped to emulate what Dolly was able to do with such breathtaking effortlessness throughout her career.
This is not necessarily a knock on those specific performers. Dolly Parton is one of the greatest of all time, and had strong command of the high register. Some women are great singers, but not in the same range, or frankly they lack the confidence to go the same places Dolly was daring enough to take many of her songs.
But that doesn’t mean the talent to evoke memories of Dolly Parton doesn’t exist in our modern music ecosystem. In Dolly’s era, there was a headlong search for the greatest singers in the United States, and then a mandate to put them on a pedestal and give them the attention they deserved to inspire the rest of us to reach our full potential at whatever we’re doing.
Now many of the most talented singers in country music have been relegated to independent labels and the “Americana” circuit. Their slaving away in bars and clubs, or on Instagram and TikTok trying to garner attention instead of appearing on major award shows, or finding support on corporate radio.
Nobody will ever replace Dolly Parton. But it’s important to ask, who are some of these incredible singers who got passed over for the Dolly Parton tribute—along with so many other worthy opportunities—who could have done so much better, and who are the singers helping to carry Dolly’s legacy into the future? Frankly, the list is long, and perhaps too long to include them all here. But this is a few of the most obvious answers.
Emily Ann Roberts
If there’s anyone who’s purposely and successfully keeping the songs of Dolly Parton alive and imparting them to a new generation, it is Emily Ann Roberts. From performing Parton songs on The Voice where she first emerged in front of a national audience, to regularly covering the songs of Dolly Parton live. Emily Ann Robert’s isn’t just a Dolly Parton fan. She’s a Dolly Parton understudy, acolyte, and advocate. She’s also signed to major label in Sony Music Nashville, and was named a nominee for the CMA’s New Artist of the Year in 2026.
It’s kind of inexplicable Roberts wasn’t tapped to perform a song on the Dolly Parton tribute. But that’s okay, because she won’t stop doing them at any opportunity she has, and doing them justice better than most.
Carter Faith
There is a new cohort of country women launching promising careers that don’t make themselves easy to quantify or compartmentalize in your country music brain. That’s because they’re creating a space for themselves previously unoccupied. The sound is surprisingly twangy and country in moments, though still inflected throughout with pop sensibility. Their approach is more independent and less radio-focused, yet still very much indicative of Nashville.
In many respects, they’re following in the footsteps of Dolly, who was unafraid to be both pop and country, while always centering the importance of the songs, and thinking more long-term than the next “hit.” That’s how Carter Faith is approaching her career, and it’s already garnered her high praise, including a nomination for Album of the Year for Cherry Valley at the ACM Awards, and a New Artist of the Year nomination from the CMAs.
And can she sing Dolly? Absolutely. Her voice is in that sweet spot to carry Dolly’s songs forward.
Emily Zeck
It’s not just that Emily Zeck’s vocal sweet spot rests within the ideal range to re-create the magic that Dolly Parton used to charm music fans for many decades. It’s also the the intangible feeling in the delivery that Emily Zeck has that reminds you so much of the Dolly Parton charm that made her songs so warm. Zeck then takes this gift, and brings it to her own original songs.
The native Floridian has mostly been known through her viral social media posts heretofore, but she’s about to release her debut album Broken In on November 20th. It will include the song “Old Is Gold” where you can really hear that Dolly Parton influence coming through.
“Country music lost its Matriarch today,” Zeck said on the day that Dolly passed. “The entirety of Dolly’s core nature has been a pillar of my songwriting journey since I was a kid. She inspired generations upon generations of young women to follow their hearts through song. Dolly Parton was truly one of one, and I genuinely believe we won’t see another like her in our lifetime. May she rest in peace.”
The Castellows
Dolly Parton was so magnanimous and powerful, perhaps it will take three women to attempt to fill the hole she left, not just one. Thankfully, that how many members this sister trio boasts, along with powerhouse harmonies, and a disposition towards classic country inspired by Dolly Parton’s legacy. The Castellows also come with that whole alluring, yet wholesome aspect that Dolly Parton perfected so well, and can write their own songs too.
The Castellows are from small town Georgia with the given names of Eleanor and Powell Balkcom (two of triplets), and their younger sister Lily. “Castellow” is their great-grandmother’s maiden name, which only seems appropriate since their music feels like it springs from a sepia photograph capturing a moment of the past in the era of homesteads, lace, and corduroy, with their sister harmonies awaking something both archaic and timeless in the hearts of listeners.
Many underestimated Dolly Parton due to her beauty, and she used that to her advantage. So do the Castellows.
Sierra Ferrell
When comparing towering individuals who’ve passed on to their potential living predecessors, the most difficult quotient to take into account is how the individual has to be a wholly unique person unlike anyone else who has ever lived as well. In short, the person can’t be directly comparable to Dolly Parton or anyone else, except for perhaps tangentially, just like Dolly Parton wasn’t comparable to anyone before her.
Just like Dolly Parton, Sierra Ferrell came from the extreme poverty of the American South. Sierra Ferrell is religious and has given her heart to Jesus, but also extends her arms to be accepting of everyone. And just like Dolly Parton, Sierra Ferrell’s music comes across like medicine. She’s a songwriter first, while her voice soars well beyond the capacities of common popular singers, stirring the soul in unique and reverberative ways.
Sierra Ferrell can also sing the hell out of some Dolly Parton with curious effortlessness.
Hannah Marie Kelley
Some singers just have a away of awakening memories of the old country music greats with their music, while also serving it with up with their own unique signature stamp on it. That’s what Hannah Marie Kelley does. Hannah doesn’t just have the voice, but the charisma, and maybe a couple of other assets that make her comparable to Dolly Parton. Originally from Appalachia, she’s imbues these experiences into her songs, and already has a massive following online.
Her take on “Jolene” and other Dolly classic will give you goosebumps, as well as original songs like “Baby Love” that sound like they could be Dolly classics.
Hannah Harper
Hannah Harper is a name we don’t know a whole lot about yet, because she’s just getting started. But when you’re shortlisting performers who can do a Dolly Parton song justice, she deserves to be on the list. Harper just won the 24th season of American Idol, making her the first woman to win the competition since Carrier Underwood did 20 seasons previous. She cites bluegrass and Gospel as strong influences in her music, just like Dolly did.
Originally from Willow Springs, Missouri and only 26, Hannah Harper is certainly one to watch as someone who could help carry Dolly songs forward into the future.
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October 28, 2026 @ 7:43 am
Nice list! 🙂 When I saw the headline, my first thought was Ashley Monroe and Valerie June — but then I remembered they’re not that new considering they’ve both been on my radar since 2013 (‘Like a Rose’ and ‘Pushin’ Against a Stone,’ respectively).
October 28, 2026 @ 7:52 am
This is a great list and I believe these women are the future of country music. I’m really excited to see what they do in the next few years.
October 28, 2026 @ 8:23 am
We shouldn’t be asking or encouraging artists to be clones of people from the past.
October 28, 2026 @ 8:28 am
I don’t think that’s what anyone is asking or encouraging here, or any place else. Nor do I think this is somehow implied. In fact, as it says in the article, “Nobody Will Ever Replace Dolly Parton,” with a link to an entire article on this subject.
October 28, 2026 @ 8:46 am
She’s just getting started but keep your eye on Carlisle Wright. In the Alan Jackson/Adam Wright/Big City Wright bloodline but doing her own thing keeping traditional country honky tonk music alive.
October 28, 2026 @ 8:59 am
How is Willow Avalon not on this list?