Ben Harper Covers Dolly Parton’s ‘9 To 5’ For 1st Time In Nashville
Jeff Coffin, Ben Clark and Evan Cobb added horns to the late country icon’s classic.
By Scott Bernstein Sep 16, 2026 • 7:43 am PDT
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals debuted a cover of Dolly Parton’s “9 To 5” on Tuesday during a sold-out concert at The Basement East in Nashville. Harper and his band were joined by a three-piece horn section featuring Dave Matthews Band saxophonist Jeff Coffin, trumpeter Ben Clark and saxophonist Evan Cobb for the Parton classic.
Tuesday’s performance marked the first documented Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals rendition of “9 To 5,” according to Setlist.fm. The cover came three weeks after Parton died at age 80 in Nashville on August 25. Parton wrote “9 To 5” for the 1980 film of the same name, in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
Coffin noted on Instagram that Cobb gave him a “very last minute call” to participate in the performance. The saxophonist shared photos from Tuesday’s concert featuring the expanded horn section.
Harper and The Innocent Criminals played “9 To 5” between “Say You Will” and “Diamonds On The Inside.” The current Innocent Criminals lineup of guitarist Alex Painter, drummer Olivia Charles, keyboardist Chris Joyner and bassist Darwin Johnson also welcomed former Relentless7 guitarist Jason Mozersky for “Fly One Time” later in the set. Harris Harper opened the second of Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals’ two concerts at The Basement East.
Watch two clips of Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals performing “9 To 5” below:
Setlist
- Below Sea Level
- Burn to Shine
- Deeper and Deeper
- With My Own Two Hands
- Steal My Kisses
- Need to Know Basis
- Welcome to the Cruel World
- Say You Will
- 9 to 5
- Diamonds on the Inside
- Faded / Fool in the Rain
- Fly One Time
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