There’s nothing like watching Dolly Parton perform great bluegrass songs. Those familiar with Dolly’s bluegrass and Appalachian folk work know just how incredible this part of her career is. Dolly was born a mountain girl, and she never stopped being one. But during that amazing run of three bluegrass albums, it was almost as if something possessed her. I’ve found that most of her broader fan base is less familiar with this side of her music, or doesn’t necessarily appreciate just how different “Little Sparrow” is from a traditional country song like “Coat of Many Colors.” This clip from Austin City Limits is in my opinion one of the best performances of the last half of her career/life. It’s a remarkable trio of songs starting with “Train, Train,” the “Mule Skinner Blues,” and finally, Dolly’s own “Little Sparrow.” “Mule Skinner Blues” is one of my favorite Dolly Parton covers. Originally recorded by Jimmie Rodgers in 1930 as “Blue Yodel No. 8,” the song later became a signature for Bill Monroe, the legendary father of bluegrass. Dolly had a major hit with her own recording in 1970, and I love watching her perform it across the decades….she kept finding new ways to make the song her own. Miss her so much.