5 Songs Dolly Parton Plans to Cover on Her ‘Rock Star’ Album

Upon receiving her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, which she initially declined but later accepted, Dolly Parton made a vow: she would record a rock album.

“I’m not expecting that I’ll get in, but if I do, I’ll immediately, next year, have to put out a great rock and roll album, which I’ve wanted to do for years—like a Linda Ronstadt or Heart kind of thing,” said Parton when she was first nominated. “So this may have been just a God-wink for me to go ahead and do that.”

Parton also shared that her husband, Carl Dean, is a huge rock fan, so she would be making the album partially for him. “When I got nominated for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, I thought ‘Well, no better time to do it,’” said Parton. “I had always wanted to do it. My husband is a big hard rock and roll fan, and for years I thought, ‘One of these days I’d like to do an album mainly just for him, just to kind of do it.’”

In the months leading up to her Rock Hall induction on Nov. 5, and following, Parton has kept her promise and revealed more of the songs she intends to include on her album. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Nov. 30, Parton—who performed her new song “Rockin'” during her Rock Hall induction—even shared the title of the album, Rock Star, and that it will be out fall 2023.

She previously hinted at doing an Elton John song and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler appearing on the album, which is rumored to be produced by Steve Albini, along with renditions of songs by Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Prince, and more.

Here’s a look at five songs the 76-year-old country (and rock) legend has revealed will be on her very first rock album.

1. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” The Rolling Stones (1965)

Parton recently revealed that she is planning to cover The Rolling Stones‘ 1965 classic “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Whether members of the Stones are confirmed to join her on the recording is unknown, but Parton stated that she wants them involved.

2. “Stairway to Heaven,” Led Zeppelin (1971)

Dolly also wants to reunite surviving members of Led Zeppelin for a cover of their 1971 classic “Stairway to Heaven.” “I’m trying to see if Robert Plant might sing on it,” said Parton. “Maybe Jimmy Page might do the pick-up part on it.”

3. “Free Bird,” Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973)

“I may do up a version of something like [Lynyrd Skynyrd’s] “Free Bird,” said Parton, “and do my own versions of some classic things that I think would make good rock and roll songs.”

4. “Open Arms,” Journey (1981)

During her Rock Hall speech, Parton mentioned several artists she would like to collaborate with on her rock album and revealed that she and Perry will sing a cover of Journey’s 1981 hit “Open Arms.”
Just days after Parton‘s induction, former Journey singer Steve Perry confirmed that he will appear on the country music legend’s upcoming rock album.

“If Dolly says it’s true, then it must be true,” wrote Perry on social media, confirming his participation. “Her voice is amazing.”

5. “Purple Rain,” Prince (1984)

When Parton recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she also promised another classic cover on her album, Prince’s “Purple Rain,” the title track of his sixth album in 1984, the soundtrack for the film of the same name.

This article was first published on americansongwriter.com by Tin Benitez-Eves