Dolly Parton announces she's releasing her first-ever rock album

Dolly Parton fans have been flooding to social media in excitement over the announcement of her first-ever rock album.

Parton may be known as a country music icon, but who's to say you can't become known as a star in more than just one genre?

After being inducted into the Hollywood Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year - having previously turned down the nomination in 2022, feeling she hadn't 'earned the right' - the 77-year-old '9 to 5' singer has revealed she will be releasing a new 30-track album of rock songs, aptly titled, Rockstar!

And just you wait until you see some of the other stars Parton's got joining her on some of the album's tracks.

Fans of the country music queen have flocked to social media in surprise and support of her latest endeavour.

One Twitter user said: "Can't wait to hear this!! No clue how it's gonna sound but I would love some Dolly collaborations!!!!"

"You are our national treasure," another commented.

A third added: "You've always been a rockstar!"

A final impatient fan wrote: "Why must we wait til November... put it out now!!!!!"

Out of the 30 tracks, nine are original and 21 are collaborations with other artists and feature new versions of songs the artist made famous. For example, 'Every Breath You Take' by Sting and 'Wrecking Ball' feat Miley Cyrus.

The line-up doesn't stop there either, with music legends such as Elton John and Paul McCartney also featuring on Parton's first rock album.

However, Parton has come under fire by some for her inclusion of Kid Rock in Rockstar!

"Can you explain to the lgbtq community why you have a kid rock song? Won’t be purchasing unless it’s removed. How can you stand for that kind of hate?" one Twitter follower said.

Another wrote: "Can’t support the Kid Rock feature. It’s pretty clear who that dude is and it has been for a while with his defense of the Confederate Flag and his recent antics involving shooting a case of Bud Light because he’s anti-trans. If Kid Rock is in, I’m out."

The full track listing is:

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)

In a statement, as per Billboard, Parton said: "I’m so excited to finally present my first rock n’ roll album, Rockstar!

"I am very honoured and privileged to have worked with some of the greatest iconic singers and musicians of all time, and to be able to sing all the iconic songs throughout the album was a joy beyond measure.

"I hope everybody enjoys the album as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together!"

Rockstar! is currently set for release on 17 November, 2023, however, if you can't wait until then, you can catch Parton performing her first single from the album,' World on Fire' tomorrow (Thursday, 11 May) at the 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Topics: Celebrity, Dolly Parton, Music, Social Media, US News

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.