Dolly Parton is delving into CCM/gospel anew, teaming with “Brighter Days” hitmaker Blessing Offor for his song “Somebody’s Child,” a soulful piano ballad that nods to finding solace and belonging in faith.
Two-time Grammy nominee Offor, who just completed the first leg of shows opening for Lauren Daigle’s national tour, wrote the piano ballad with Joy Williams and Josh Ronen. The accompanying music video, starring Offor and Parton, begins with Offor playing and singing at a piano. He’s soon joined by Parton and a choir, heightening the emotion, while the video is interspersed with footage of various real-world situations of both joy and struggle, highlighting the need for compassion and empathy.
“We’re all ‘somebody’s child,’” Blessing said of the song in a statement. “It’s such a simple concept, but I hope it’s the beginning of us all realizing that there’s always a point of empathy, there’s always common ground if we want to find it. And there’s no better embodiment of finding common ground, finding relatability, than Dolly Parton. I’m so honored and humbled to have her on this project.”
In January 2023, the Nigerian-born, Connecticut-raised Offor released his debut album My Tribe. He was nominated for the GMA Dove Awards’ new artist of the year in 2022 and that same year, earned a three-week Christian Airplay No. 1 hit with his TobyMac collab “The Goodness.” Offor has been featured on albums by Lee Brice and Chris Tomlin, while his song “Brighter Days” reached No. 2 on the Christian Airplay chart.
Ten-time Grammy winner Parton added in a statement, “I know it’s too easy to say it was a blessing singing with Blessing,” Dolly says, “but it was. I love the song ‘Somebody’s Child’ and I am very proud to be a part of it.”
Parton, of course, has teamed with a few other CCM/gospel artists in recent years, partnering with for King & Country on “God Only Knows,” as well as partnering with Zach Williams for “There Was Jesus” and “Lookin’ For You.”
See the video for “Somebody’s Child” below:
