When Dolly Parton learned she would be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, her first reaction was to gracefully bow out. “Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right,” Parton said in a statement. “I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out.”
She continued, “This has, however, inspired me to put a hopefully great rock and roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do.”
Soon after, Parton accepted her induction and to make amends for her less-than-rock past, she set out to record her first rock album. The 30-track album, Parton’s 49th release, features a cast of some of the biggest rock stars and bands from classic rock through more contemporary artists, everyone from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson, Sting, Richie Sambora, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, from Judas Priest, Michael McDonald, John Fogerty, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Debbie Harry, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, Lizzo, and goddaughter Miley Cyrus, among many more.
The album was a collection of songs, Parton says she wishes she had written, including Cyrus’ 2013 hit “Wrecking Ball.” Cyrus joins Parton on the track midway through the album. “The way she sang it was just incredible,” said Parton. “I think that’s one of the best songs that’s been out in the last 25 years or so, if not ever.”
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“Open Arms”
Former Journey frontman Steve Perry also makes an appearance on Rockstar, on a duet of the band’s 1982 hit “Open Arms.” Written by Perry and Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain and released on the band’s seventh album Escape in 1982, “Open Arms” went to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Once released, Escape went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, along with another hit from the album, “Don’t Stop Believin’” which peaked at No. 9.
In 2023, Parton finally revised “Open Arms” and covered it on her Rockstar album with a little help from Perry as guest vocalist. “Steve Perry is singing with me on it, and he’s the one that had the original on that years ago,” said Parton. “It was a big hit.”
Perry confirmed his collaboration with Parton on the “track “Open Arms” before the release of Rockstar. “If Dolly says it’s true, then it must be true,” said Perry. “Her voice is amazing.”
“Open Arms” is also a song Parton’s husband Carl Dean thought she should have covered many years earlier with one of her longtime friends and collaborator.
“My husband always loved it and always thought I should have recorded it with Kenny Rogers, but I never got a chance to do that,” added Parton. “So, when I started doing the rock album, I thought, ‘Well, I’m going to record ‘Open Arms,’ and then I’m going to ask Steve Perry to sing it with me.’ I wish I had written it.”
Nearly two weeks before releasing Rockstar, Parton graciously accepted her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction during a ceremony on November 5, 2023, saying “I guess I’m a rock star now.” Released on November 17, 2023, Rockstar was another hit for Parton going to No. 1 on the Country, Rock, and Americana charts and peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
Photo: Dolly Parton performs at Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum on October 22, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Tom Hill/WireImage)
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