Dolly Parton plans to record a rock album

Country music legend Dolly Parton says she will record a rock album if she’s inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year.

The 17 artists on the shortlist for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 were unveiled earlier this month, and Dolly Parton picked up her very first nomination.

Rock acts in the mix include Judas Priest, Rage Against The Machine and New York Dolls, however the typically eclectic shortlist also featured musicians from the worlds of country, hip-hop, soul, funk, afrobeat, indie and pop.

Speaking to Billboard about her nomination, Dolly Parton said she was absolutely “floored” when she found out and she never expected to make the ballot.

The 76-year-old icon added that if she does get in, she will release a rock album in 2023 inspired by female rock acts Heart and Linda Ronstadt.

“I was absolutely floored when I heard that,” Dolly said. “I’ve never thought of myself as being rock and roll in any sense of the word — but I guess they judge it on the music and the influence certain songs have had, and I guess I’ve had songs with other people in that realm. But I don’t know how they judge that.”

She added: “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.

“So this may have been just a God-wink for me to go ahead and do that. It’s just nice to be nominated.”

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2022 shortlist:

Artists become eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first single or album.

The final artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 will be revealed in May and the ceremony will take place in the autumn.

Dolly Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry 30 years earlier in 1969.

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• Dolly Parton