Did you ever think you’d see the day that the queen of country, Dolly Parton would create a full rock album? Well, Parton herself has put the possibility of it happening one day out into the universe.
Turns out Parton’s not too opposed to dipping her toe into the head-banging genre, and members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame are already on board and ready to welcome her.
The news of Parton wanting to release a rock album came during a recent interview with Billboard. In 1999, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, a high honor for any artist in the country music industry. In 2022, she received a nomination that surprised the “9 to 5” singer just as much as it did everyone else – Dolly Parton was nominated for an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame.
“I was absolutely floored when I heard that,” Parton responded when asked about receiving this unexpected news. “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 continued. “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.”
Whether she gets inducted or now, Parton has already shown her audience that she has the talent to shine in any genre. In 2002, the beloved singer-songwriter ended her performance at the Live and Well concert in her Tennessee theme park, Dollywood, with a rendition of the Led Zeppelin tune, “Stairway to Heaven.” This cover can also be heard on her 37th studio album, Halos & Horns, which was released in the same year. Of course, she put her own spin on the song, adding her country twang and slowing things down, in compared to the Zeppelin original.
The other first-time nominees standing on the ballot next to Parton for an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame include Beck, Eminem, Duran Duran, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, and A Tribe Called Quest.
“This year’s ballot recognizes a diverse group of incredible artists, each who has had a profound impact on the sound of youth culture”, explained John Sykes, chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “Their music not only moved generations, but also influenced the sound of countless artists that followed.”
According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Inductees will be announced in May 2022 and the induction ceremony will be held in the upcoming fall season. The date, venue, and on-sale information has yet to be announced.
Recently, it was announced that Parton has been selected to host the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards show, which is being held on March 7 in Las Vegas. In addition, she was recently featured in a Super Bowl commercial for T-Mobile with fellow powerhouse Miley Cyrus.
