Rockstar (Dolly Parton album)
Rockstar is the upcoming forty-ninth solo studio album by Dolly Parton.[3][4] It is scheduled to be released on November 17, 2023, by Butterfly Records and Big Machine Records.[5][6] The album is a collaborative project with a variety of rock musicians, marking Parton's first foray into that genre.
| Rockstar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 One of four covers to Rockstar: the others feature Parton in similar outfits mounting a motorcycle, holding an electric guitar, or posing with a leather eye patch in the shape of a star | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 17, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Kent Wells[1] | |||
| Dolly Parton chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rockstar | ||||
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Recording and release
Parton was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 and initially declined the honor as she has a background in country music and not rock.[7] In response, she declared her intention to record an album of rock covers with a host of musical guests from that genre to justify her inclusion. Parton performed "Rockin'", an original song, at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
She reached out to a variety of dream collaborators over the course of several months and announced, including several of the artist she performed with at the Hall of Fame ceremony such as fellow 2022 inductees Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Simon Le Bon and Rob Halford, and other guests Pink, Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow. Parton officially announced the recording on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on November 30.[8] She revealed the album release on the January 17, 2023 episode of The View[9] and previewed the track "World on Fire" on May 11.[2]
British guitarist Peter Frampton was recruited into recording after a mutual friend performed backing vocals with American singer Steven Tyler on the album. He immediately called his manager and the next day, spoke with producer Kent Wells to perform a guitar solo and also vocals on a second track.[1] Parton pursued Mick Jagger to provide vocals on her Rolling Stones cover, but he had a scheduling conflict[10] and failed to reunite Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant for her new cover of "Stairway to Heaven", a favorite of her husband Carl Dean.[11] Her favorite collaborator was fellow country musician Chris Stapleton.[12]
Prior to the reveal of the official track listing, Parton had performed "Wrecking Ball" with her goddaughter Miley Cyrus at her New Year's Eve show. Parton performed the album's lead single "World on Fire" for the first time at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards on May 11, 2023.[13]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rockstar" (with Richie Sambora) | ||
| 2. | "World on Fire" | 4:21 | |
| 3. | "Every Breath You Take" (featuring Sting) | Sting | |
| 4. | "Open Arms" (featuring Steve Perry) |
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| 5. | "Magic Man" (featuring Ann Wilson with special guest Howard Leese) |
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| 6. | "Long as I Can See the Light" (featuring John Fogerty) | Fogerty | |
| 7. | "Either Or" (featuring Kid Rock) | ||
| 8. | "I Want You Back" (featuring Steven Tyler with special guest Warren Haynes) | ||
| 9. | "What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done for You" (featuring Stevie Nicks with special guest Waddy Wachtel) | Nicks | |
| 10. | "Purple Rain" | Prince | |
| 11. | "Baby, I Love Your Way" (featuring Peter Frampton) | Frampton | |
| 12. | "I Hate Myself for Loving You" (featuring Joan Jett and the Blackhearts) | ||
| 13. | "Night Moves" (featuring Chris Stapleton) | Bob Seger | |
| 14. | "Wrecking Ball" (featuring Miley Cyrus) | ||
| 15. | "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (featuring P!nk and Brandi Carlile) | ||
| 16. | "Keep On Loving You" (featuring Kevin Cronin) | Cronin | |
| 17. | "Heart of Glass" (featuring Debbie Harry) |
| |
| 18. | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (featuring Elton John) |
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| 19. | "Tried to Rock and Roll Me" (featuring Melissa Etheridge) | ||
| 20. | "Stairway to Heaven" (featuring Lizzo) | ||
| 21. | "We Are the Champions" | Freddie Mercury | |
| 22. | "Bygones" (featuring Rob Halford with special guests Nikki Sixx, and John 5) | ||
| 23. | "My Blue Tears" (featuring Simon Le Bon) | Parton | |
| 24. | "What's Up?" (featuring Linda Perry) | Perry | |
| 25. | "You're No Good" (featuring Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow) | Clint Ballard, Jr. | |
| 26. | "Heartbreaker" (featuring Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo) | ||
| 27. | "Bittersweet" (featuring Michael McDonald) | ||
| 28. | "I Dreamed About Elvis" (featuring Ronnie McDowell with special guest The Jordanaires) | ||
| 29. | "Let It Be" (featuring Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr with special guests Peter Frampton and Mick Fleetwood) |
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| 30. | "Free Bird" (featuring Ronnie Van Zant with special guests Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle, and The Artimus Pyle Band) |
Personnel
- Dolly Parton – vocals
- Vijat Mohindra – photography
- Kent Wells – production[1]
Chart performance
After 55 years as a recording artist, Parton had her first release hit a rock-themed chart, with the single "World on Fire" debuting at 13 on Billboard's Rock Digital Song Sales in May 2023.[14]
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | November 17, 2023 |
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References
- Graff, Gary (May 9, 2023). "How Peter Frampton 'Lowballed' His Way Onto Dolly Parton's Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- Young, Alex (May 9, 2023). "The Tracklist for Dolly Parton's Rock Album is a Sight to Behold". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Mata, William (May 2023). "Dolly Parton releases full track list for first-ever rock album". Evening Standard. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Magnotta, Andrew. "Dolly Parton Confirms Numerous Collaborations From Upcoming 'Rock Star' LP". iHeartRadio. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Strauss, Matthew (May 9, 2023). "Dolly Parton Announces New Rock Album Featuring Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Lizzo, Miley Cyrus, and More". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Nicholson, Jessica (May 9, 2023). "Dolly Parton's Star-Studded Album 'Rockstar' Finally Has a Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Branwyn, Gareth (March 14, 2022). "Dolly Parton gracefully declines nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Curto, Justin (December 1, 2022). "Dolly Parton Wants to Rock With Everyone on a New Album". Vulture. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- "Dolly Parton's New Rock Album will Feature Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, & Many More". SiriusXM. January 18, 2023. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- Liptak, Cerena (May 17, 2023). "Dolly Parton Explains Why Mick Jagger Isn't on Her Rock Album". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- Weisholtz, Drew (May 15, 2023). "Dolly Parton takes on politicians in new rock single: 'None of them are working from the heart'". The Today Show. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- Goldstein, Tiffany (May 16, 2023). "Dolly Parton Says Chris Stapleton is Her "Favorite Collaborator" on 'Rockstar'". American Songwriter. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- Nicholson, Jessica (May 9, 2023). "Dolly Parton's Star-Studded Album 'Rockstar' Finally Has a Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Mcintyre, Hugh. "Dolly Parton Reaches A New Billboard Chart 55 Years After Her Debut". Forbes.com.
