Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris – The Sweetest Gift

Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt Performing, “The Sweetest Gift” at Dolly Show during the 1976–77 season.

No autotune. No gaudy costumes. No lascivious dancing. Just pure 100% talent! This is a good example of what our world needs now more than ever!

Love how Dolly all but sits out the chorus and lets Linda and Emmylou harmonize. Shows how much these three respect what each other can do.

Lyrics:
One day a mother went to a prison
To see an erring but precious son
She told the warden how much she loved him
It did not matter what he had done

She did not bring to him a parole or pardon
She brought no silver, no pomp or style
It was a halo bright sent down from heaven’s light
The sweetest gift, a mother’s smile

She left a smile you can remember
She’s gone to heaven from heartaches free
Those walls around you could never change her
You were her baby and e’er will be

She did not bring to him a parole or pardon
She brought no silver, no pomp or style
It was a halo bright sent down from heaven’s light
The sweetest gift, a mother’s smile

She did not bring to him a parole or pardon
She brought no silver, no pomp or style
It was a halo bright sent down from heaven’s light
The sweetest gift, a mother’s smile
The sweetest gift, a mother’s smile

Songwriters: James B. Coats
The Sweetest Gift lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group