‘Proud I Did It’: Dolly Parton Talks New Album ‘Rockstar’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Dolly Parton is opening up about her new album “Rockstar,” which was released on Friday, Nov. 17.
While known for not talking politics, the legendary singer made a rare political statement with her new song, “World on Fire.”
When asked what politicians she’s referring to in the line, “Greedy politicians, present and past,” Parton answered, “All of them. Any of them.”
“I don’t think any of them are trying hard enough,” she continued. “I’m sure we’re all trying, but I just really think that often, they worry more about their party than they do about the people.”
The iconic singer-songwriter also spoke about some of the duet partners she got to work with on “Rockstar.” One of her favorites? “Let It Be,” recorded with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
“It is fantastic!” she said. “Paul was so gracious, and he played the piano, and he sang on it, and they just killed it.”
She also talked about collaborating with goddaughter and fellow musician Miley Cyrus on Cyrus’ track “Wrecking Ball.”
“She’s my little sweetheart,” she said during an interview on THE HOWARD STERN SHOW. “She’s very intuitive about the business, and I just think Miley is a spectacular human being and an amazing talent. We’ve just stayed very, very close through the years.”
Parton spoke about her desire to record a rock album in an interview with Metro.
“I’d often thought I might want to do a rock album at some point,” she explained. “I’d done a few rock songs scattered here and there on my albums, and I’d done some covers of rock songs, making them kind of Country or bluegrass. But when I got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, a place in my heart said ‘I hadn’t really earned that position.’ I thought ‘If I’m ever going to do a rock album, I want to earn it.’ I’m big on timing. It seemed the right thing to do at the right time. I’m proud I did it and I’m real proud of how it turned out.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Parton’s rock album:
Dolly Parton is opening up about her upcoming rock album, “Rockstar,” including the inspiration behind popular single “World on Fire.”
“I’ve been rocking since the day I was born,” Parton said of her switch in genre during a conversation on Southern Living’s “Biscuits & Jam” podcast. “I still got rock ‘n’ roll down in my country soul.”
Parton also shared what inspired “World on Fire.”
“I was thinking that my heart was heavy,” she explained. “And I’d just been watching everything that’s going on and just how we don’t seem to be trying to do anything about it…We let stuff like [politics] get more in the way of human decency and kindness and values and all the stuff that we used to seem to have at least a notion about, and now it seems like we’re just drifting.”
Parton said she wrote the song to “just throw a light” on her concerns about the state of the world that “might change a few minds and touch a few hearts.”