Dolly Parton talks reuniting The Beatles' Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on her rock album

To celebrate the upcoming release of her rock album ‘Rockstar’, country legend Dolly Parton joined Dave Berry on his Absolute Radio breakfast show this morning for a chat.

Set for release on Friday 17th November 2023, ‘Rockstar’ boasts an astonishing 30 tracks comprised of nine Dolly-penned originals and a smorgasbord of covers of rock classics, and it also features an array of big-name guest performers.

One of the standout collaborations is undoubtedly Dolly’s cover of The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’, which features Paul McCartney on co-vocals and piano and Ringo Starr on drums, alongside Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and guitar icon Peter Frampton.

During the chat, Dolly explained to Dave how the all-star cover of ‘Let It Be’ came about.

“I’ve always loved that song,” Dolly enthused. “I recorded the song without them and then I thought, ‘Wow. Wouldn't it be great if Paul McCartney would agree to play piano and sing on it?!’ And then I thought ‘wouldn't it even be greater to have Ringo Starr - because that’s the last of The Beatles - play on that track?!’

“Then, of course, we had Mick Fleetwood doing some percussion along with that, and then we had Peter Frampton who added a few things on it. I thought, ‘this is an all-star song!’”

Dolly continued: “But just the whole idea of having Paul, who I've loved through the years and just having them be on it… I just asked if they'd do it and they said ‘yeah’, and I was excited to death.

“I have to give a lot of that credit as far as the musicians and the others (are concerned) to Kent Wells, who is the producer of the album. He’s been my musical director and guitar player for 30 plus years.

“But Paul and Ringo (performing ‘Let It Be’) was definitely my first thought on that, ‘If I could get them, that would be great!’ They were so generous and so sweet about it. I was so, so touched with so many of the people on the album that they were so willing to do it.”

Asked by Dave what it’s like covering other people’s songs, Dolly said: “It felt good because a I'm a big fan of songs. And being a songwriter, you have your very favourites that you really think ‘wow, wish I'd written that! Why didn’t I write that?!’ You're always thinking that as a songwriter.

“These are songs that I loved mostly because of my husband Carl Dean, who is a rock and roll freak! He didn't particularly care that much for country music, he just was always into rock since he was young.

“All of our lives - we've been together almost 60 years - anytime I'm around him in the house, in the truck, in the car, the tractor, whatever, he’s always playing rock songs. So I actually chose some of his favourite songs to do – ‘Stairway to Heaven’ being one of them, he’s a Led Head completely. And then I chose some that I loved like ‘Purple Rain’, I always loved that particular song and I thought it was one of the highlights of the album.”

You can watch Dave Berry’s full exclusive interview with Dolly Parton below where she discusses more about the making of ‘Rockstar’, her iconic look, and her new book ‘Behind the Seams’.

Watch Dolly Parton's interview with Absolute Radio:

In February 2022, Dolly Parton was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and told Billboard at the time: “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.”

A few weeks later, Parton announced she was “bowing out” of the shortlist as she did not “feel that I have earned (the) right” to be included on the Rock Hall’s list.

However, Parton later made a U-turn, and she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November alongside Judas Priest, Eminem, Duran Duran, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, Eurythmics and Pat Benatar.

True to her word, Dolly Parton pressed on with making her rock album ‘Rockstar’ and she has been teasing the names of guest performers in recent months.

Dolly Parton's 'Rockstar' will be available as a 4 LP set, a 2 CD set, digital download and on all streaming services.

Dolly Parton - 'Rockstar' alternative covers and 'World on Fire' artwork:

Dolly Parton’s ‘Rockstar’ track-listing:

1 - Rockstar (special guest Richie Sambora)

2 - World on Fire

3 - Every Breath You Take (feat. Sting)

4 - Open Arms (feat. Steve Perry)

5 - Magic Man (feat. Ann Wilson with special guest Howard Leese)

6 - Long As I Can See The Light (feat. John Fogerty)

7 - Either Or (feat. Kid Rock)

8 - I Want You Back (feat. Steven Tyler with special guest Warren Haynes)

9 - What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You (feat. Stevie Nicks with special guest Waddy Wachtel)

10 - Purple Rain

11 - Baby, I Love Your Way (feat. Peter Frampton)

12 - I Hate Myself For Loving You (feat. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)

13 - Night Moves (feat. Chris Stapleton)

14 - Wrecking Ball (feat. Miley Cyrus)

15 - (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (feat. P!nk & Brandi Carlile)

16 - Keep On Loving You (feat. Kevin Cronin)

17 - Heart Of Glass (feat. Debbie Harry)

18 - Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me (feat. Elton John)

19 - Tried To Rock And Roll Me (feat. Melissa Etheridge)

20 - Stairway To Heaven (feat. Lizzo & Sasha Flute)

21 - We Are The Champions

22 - Bygones (feat. Rob Halford with special guests Nikki Sixx & John 5)

23 - My Blue Tears (feat. Simon Le Bon)

24 - What’s Up? (feat. Linda Perry)

25 - You’re No Good (feat. Emmylou Harris & Sheryl Crow)

26 - Heartbreaker (feat. Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo)

27 - Bittersweet (feat. Michael McDonald)

28 - I Dreamed About Elvis (feat. Ronnie McDowell with special guest The Jordanaires)

29 - Let It Be (feat. Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr with special guests Peter Frampton & Mick Fleetwood)

30 - Free Bird (feat. Ronnie Van Zant with special guests Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle and The Artimus Pyle Band)

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• Dolly Parton
• The Beatles
• Paul McCartney