Zac Brown Band and Dolly Parton’s Butterfly: Classic Dolly with a Modern Twist

The Zac Brown Band is a sprawling 10 piece country band that is more of a country music collective where members come and go and come back again over time. Think of the country music version of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. We have not heard from them in a few years, but they have recently released the single Butterfly featuring Dolly Parton. Big Dolly fans know how important the butterfly is for her from the song Love is Like a Butterfly, to the butterfly in her record label logo. Dolly has been all over the place in the last few years with her Rockstar record and backing mixes and musicals and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So, let’s see what’s going on in this new track.

The Zac Brown Band has always leaned towards traditional country, but with tons of production, which gave it a modern gloss. This has made the band extremely popular, but it lacks some of the heart of traditional country. However, their latest record The Comeback in 2022 has the band exploring different sub genres of country and getting a bit more raw in their production and vocal. So, where are they on this single? The track opens with a simple piano and then builds to a wall of strings, some horns, guitar and drums. This gives the track an epic and spiritual vibe, while also placing all the focus on the vocals. The instrumentation does not take away from the vocal, but enhances it. On the surface, there is nothing crazy going on musically, but it is that epic spiritual vibe that I really appreciate.

This track is a throwback to the classic duets with Dolly and Kenny Rodgers. It’s kind of a modern Islands in the Stream vocally. Much like Kenny, Zac Brown really goes for it vocally and is a perfect compliment to Dolly’s ethereal country vocal. To say Dolly makes the track is an understatement. Without her vocal, Zac would lack the depth necessary for a track about love and spirituality to really soar. Dolly takes the verses and the hook to a new stratosphere and even Zac at his most over the top doesn’t overshadow her greatness. The fact that Dolly can go so big on this track gives Zac the green light to go for it, which really gives the track heart and soul.

For me, a lot of Zac’s production drains his solid country tracks of heart and soul. However, having Dolly really go for it gives the track a depth of soul I find lacking in his other work. Ultimately, they work very well together and the sum is greater than its parts. This track also reinforces how Dolly is one of the best duet artists in music history. She can match anyone on a track and elevate it. Taylor Swift is similar, but for me Dolly is the ultimate artist for a duet. Above all else, this shows that Dolly’s still got it.

Listen to Butterfly