5/11/2023 - Update 15: Dolly will co-host the ACM Awards show TONIGHT, and Perform her first single from Rock Star, "World On Fire", so be sure to tune in online to Prime Video to watch. Here's a link.
5/10/2023 - Update 14: A Release Date of Friday November 17th at 1am Eastern Time, has been revealed. For a link to Dolly's facebook page about the release, Click Here.
5/10/2023 - Update 13: Track Listing and all mystery artist collaborations revealed!
4/28/2023 - Update 12: Dolly reveals she did not get Mick Jagger on her album as she had wished.
4/13/2023 - Update 11: Steve Perry wrapping up his portion of Open Arms for Rock Star.
4/13/2023 - Update 10: John 5, of Motley Crue, confirms he played on a song for Rock Star.
4/6/2023 - Update 9: Nikki Sixx, bassist for Motley Crue, confirms he played bass on a song for Rock Star.
3/18/2023 - Update 8: Elton John confirms he has recorded his part of the duet with Dolly.
3/7/2023 - Update 7: Rob Halford will likely be on the able as well. Update at the bottom of the article.
2/10/2023 - Update 6: Bebe Rexha has a collaboration with Dolly, likely unrelated to Rock Star album. Update at the bottom. 2/23/23 Update with Song Title for duet.
2/9/2023 - Update 5: REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin confirmed he and Dolly dueted on a ''darker version'' of "Keep On Loving You''. See below for more info.
2/9/2023 - Update 4: It has been reported that Ann Wilson of Heart will also be on Dolly's album, Rock Star. More below!
2/1/2023 - Update 3: Dolly collaborates with Cheat Codes for a new song, "Bets On Us". Jump down to the bottom for more info and to listen to the song. This doesn't appear to be related to the Rock Star.
2/1/2023 - Update 2: Sheryl Crow confirms that herself, Emmylou Harris and Jimmy Buffet have recorded for Dolly's Rock album.
1/30/2023 Update - Over the weekend, USA Today published an article and interview with Dolly about her album, which you can read right here. So, there is new information to share.
Her double album “Rock Star” – “a tongue in cheek title,” Parton tells USA TODAY with a giggle – is expected in late summer/early fall and the anticipated 28 tracks are stuffed with marquee names, many of them one-word recognizables (Elton, McCartney, Miley, Fogerty)
28 Tracks!!
There were some additional updates about the artists she is collaborating with. I have updated the lists below and I'll underline the additions.
Original Story Below
Hi Everyone, I think, by now, almost every Dolly fan knows she is making a rock album called ROCK STAR, on the stiletto heels of her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I published a blog post on December 5th with all the details that were out there at that time. Well, more details have surfaced, and I have an update. I should note that details are still coming out. New interviews with Dolly are almost certain to include new information! Stay tuned to my blog and follow along for updated information.
First, Let's Recap from my December article, we have the following info about collaborations:
🔴Dolly with Steve Perry - "Open Arms" - 4/13/23 Update 11:
Source: Steve Perry | Instagram |
🔴Steven Tyler - original song (Dolly- USA Today)
🔴Elton John - We now know it will be "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", although I don't believe it's been announced anywhere whether or not this is a duet or solo performance. She has mentioned that she has asked everyone to do a duet/trio, but I don't know the answer to every request.
3/18/2023 Update 8: DAILY MAIL - At an Oscars viewing party hosted by his eponymous AIDS foundation, the 75-year-old Tiny Dancer crooner allegedly revealed the big news — that he had already made a new song with the country singer, 77.
The Your Song hitmaker apparently told party guests attending his star-studded bash that their track is coming soon.The insider also revealed that as soon as Elton heard that Dolly wanted to collaborate with him, he immediately jumped at the opportunity.
'He heard that she wanted to work with him and leapt at the chance,' they said.
The source also added: 'Elton loves collaborating and who better to do so with than a bonafide music legend?'
Rumors have been going around that they worked together to remix a version of Elton's 1974 hit single, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
🔴Robert Plant and Jimmy Page for "Stairway to Heaven"
🔴Prince - "Purple Rain"
🔴Rolling Stones - "I Cant Get No Satisfaction" Dolly mentioned that P!nk and Brandi Carlile will accompany her on ICGNS, but she also said that she had reached out to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from RS, but she did not confirm their participation.
More on Mick Jagger from the USA Today article:
USA Today Q - Are you still trying to get Mick Jagger?
I wanted a song for just me and Mick – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” – and Brandi and Pink are now singing on it. I’m still waiting for Mick to come on back. He might come through. If not, I’ll kick his bony ass when I see him!
4/28/23 Update on Mick: Dolly: "I wasn't able to get Mick on the record." Source
🔴Lynard Skynard - "Freebird"
Fast Forward to now, more information has been released. Let's dig in.
🟢Stevie Nicks - duet with Dolly, "What Has Rock n Roll Ever Done For Me", written by Stevie
🟢 Mick Fleetwood - unknown song
🟢Cher duet with Annie Lennox "Sweet Dreams Are Made of This"
🟢John Fogerty - duet with Dolly, "Long As I Can See The Light''
🟢Paul McCartney and Ringo Star - "Let It Be"
🟢Miley Cyrus - "Wrecking Ball" - They performed this at Miley's New Years Eve Party on NBC.
🟢 Simon Le Bon - "My Blue Tears". "I was so excited because I could just hear his voice on it. He has that beautiful high voice and it's an Irish-sounding love song with bagpipes. It's a love song about when a fella goes off to war and leaves his sweetheart behind and she cries her lonely blue tears and he's on the other side crying his lonely blue tears. It's a big range that Simon will be great at" (Dolly- USA Today)
🟢 Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris and Jimmy Buffet are on the album - 2/1/23
🟢 Joan Jett - unknown song, although Miley and Dolly sang JJ's "I Love Rock and Roll'' for Miley's New Years Eve Party.
REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin is one of the rockers set to appear on Dolly Parton’s upcoming rock album, Rock Star, and he’s spilled the tea on the track they’ve recorded together.
While chatting with the Totally 80s podcast, Cronin revealed he and Dolly recorded a cover of the band’s classic “Keep On Loving You,” although he notes their version is a “dark duet.”
In the song Cronin sings about his woman’s infidelity and his decision to stay with her, but says he realized, “I kind of portrayed myself as more of the good guy than perhaps I was.”
“Perhaps it takes more than one snake in the grass, ‘all coiled up and hissing,’ to tango — if you catch my drift. That’s the reality of the song, you know?” he explains. “So, it gave me the idea that Dolly could sing the first verse, and in the first verse, I’m cheating on her. But then I take the second verse, and in the second verse, I go, ‘Oh yeah? Well, I know all about those men!’”
The two then come together and sing the chorus in harmony, but he notes, “It just slays me, because that’s how the song was meant to be performed; I just didn’t realize it until Dolly called me the other day. So that’s how we’re doing it, and I’m just so stoked.”
🟢 Rob Halford of Judas Priest - Update from 3/07/2023 - According to blabbermouth.net:
"So, we did that, and I was over the top (Performing Jolene w/Dolly at RnR HOF induction ceremony), 'cause I was all over like a rash — I was like a total fanboy," Rob continued. "I thought, 'Oh, God. I've blown it here now.' After the show, her manager came up to me, Danny [Nozell], and he goes, 'She's doing a project, like a rock album. Would you be interested?' I said, 'Yeah. Here's my number.' And then, out of the blue, like four weeks later, and suddenly [there's] ideas for some more work.
🟢 Nikki Sixx confirms his involvement in Rock Star -4/6/23.
Source: https://www.metalcastle.net/nikki-sixx-admits-getting-a-call-from-his-hero-dolly-parton-was-a-real-treat/Met so many of my hero’s and superstars along my path over the last 45 years but getting a call from Dolly yesterday was a real treat. What a class act and obviously ridiculously talented-What a songwriter.
— 📷 (@NikkiSixx) April 1, 2023
“I’m so honored that I got the opportunity to play guitar on one of the songs on the upcoming @DollyParton album.“I’ve been listening to Dolly ever since I can remember. Words cannot describe how exciting this is. #DollyParton #John5″
I’m so honored that I got the opportunity to play guitar on one of the songs on the upcoming @DollyParton album. I’ve been listening to Dolly ever since I can remember. Words cannot describe how exciting this is. 🙏❤️#DollyParton #John5 pic.twitter.com/8tbWORNT5d
— John 5 (@john5guitarist) April 11, 2023
🎵 🎵 🎵 🎵 🎵 🎵 🎵
Honorable Mentions for Possibilities...
🟣 David Byrne??? - He was on Miley's New Years Eve Party but did not perform with Dolly.
🟣 Sia??? - She was also on Miley's New Years Eve Party, but did not perform with Dolly. HOWEVER, Sia and Dolly previously duetted on "Here I Am" an older song of Dolly's redone for the Dumplin Film (currently on Netflix - USA).
🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
2/10/2023 Update: Bebe Rexha, according to Billboard Magazine, is or already has recorded a song with Dolly. No other information was offered about the song with Dolly. Read more at Billboards site here. I think it's safe to assume that this is not for Dolly's Rock Star album. 2/23/23 Update. Bebe's song with Dolly is titled "Seasons."
In addition to Rock Star, Dolly has been working on other musical projects. She has written a song for Dionne Warwick to sing solo, and she has written a duet for herself and Dionne, as well. The name of the song for the duet is "Peace Like A River". You can look forward to those coming out on February 24th.
Right now, Dolly has a collaboration with some other 80's Ladies for a title song for the movie 80 For Brady - read more below.
80 For Brady Song - "Gonna Be You"
This song, written for the movie by Diane Warren and includes Dolly Parton, Debbie Harry, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper and Gloria Estefan.
Here is what CNN had to say about it....
What do you get when you take a movie about a group of octogenarians who are hardcore Tom Brady fans and a song written by Diane Warren sung by Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry?
You get the single “Gonna Be You,” which debuted Friday with a music video.
The song somewhat reunites Parton with her “9 to 5” costars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as they star in “80 for Brady,” along with Parton’s “Steel Magnolias” costar Sally Field and EGOT winner Rita Moreno.
The film follows a group of seniors who love Brady so much, they are willing to do pretty much anything to see him play in the Super Bowl LI.
Warren said in a statement, “When I wrote ‘Gonna Be You’ for 80 FOR BRADY, I wanted to write a song that celebrated these women’s deep friendship.”
“Since 80 was in the title I got a crazy idea, why not get some of the most iconic singers from the 80s, who are still amazing and always will be, to all sing it?!!!! Everyone I approached said yes and was just as excited as me!!,” Warren said. “I’m honored to have Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry on this song!! ‘Gonna Be You’ is that song you want to sing along to with all your good friends!!!”
❤❤
2/1/2023 - "Bets On Us" collaboration with DJ's Cheat Codes.
Read all about the song at Dolly's website.
Stay tuned to my blog and follow along for more exciting updates!