# Dolly Parton-- Rockstar **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 21, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500 "2023-11-21T23:19:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/1 "2023-11-21T23:19:16Z")
Apparently, Dolly Parton has released a album of Rock Music-- a bunch of covers (often with one or more of the original performers helping out) and some new songs. I heard about this on NPR the other day, and have now listened to a big chunk of it, and I wouldn’t say it’s really my thing, it’s kinda fun anyway. (I’m not a big Rock music person, nor do I listen to a lot of Dolly Parton’s music, but I’m certainly a fan of _her_). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/2 "2023-11-21T23:20:33Z")
Is that why I heard her doing What’s Going On with Linda Perry a few days ago? (And, FWIW, Dolly doesn’t get real high, she wonders why) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/3 "2023-11-21T23:22:33Z")
I heard her talking about it on the college football game Saturday. They added her old song Rocky Top to the album. Seems she inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame. That was her inspiration. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/4 "2023-11-21T23:51:07Z")
I love her. I do. I would lay down my life for her. But I will not be buying this album, or even borrowing it from the library. To paraphrase Hank Hill, she hasn’t made rock 'n roll better, she’s made it more country. Or something. I’ve been drinking. Sirius XM has a temporary Rockstar channel and I really haven’t enjoyed it as much as I expected to. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/5 "2023-11-21T23:53:15Z")
You funny. Yeah she’s cool as heck. I’m not sure I’d lay down my life for her. Or buy her music. But she is cool. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/6 "2023-11-22T00:02:17Z")
When she was nominated for the R&RHoF, she tried to have them take it back, 'cause she’s Country. They refused, she’s in. From Wiki: > Lead single “World on Fire” was released on May 11, 2023,[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockstar_(Dolly_Parton_album)#cite_note-wof-1) with the singles “[Magic Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Man_(Heart_song))” featuring [Ann Wilson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Wilson), “Bygones” featuring [Rob Halford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Halford) and [Nikki Sixx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_Sixx) and [John 5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_5_(guitarist)), “[We Are the Champions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_Champions)”/“[We Will Rock You](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Will_Rock_You)”, Parton’s version of “[Let It Be](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be_(Beatles_song))” featuring surviving [Beatles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles) [Paul McCartney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCartney) and [Ringo Starr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringo_Starr), and Parton’s version of “[What’s Up?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What%27s_Up%3F_(4_Non_Blondes_song))” featuring [Linda Perry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Perry) following over the next five months. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/7 "2023-11-22T01:51:20Z")
She should have included a duet with Chris Gaines 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/8 "2023-11-22T02:42:46Z")
Her version of Stairway To Heaven (featuring Lizzo on flute) came up on my phone the other day. I thought it was a decent cover. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/9 "2023-11-22T09:26:26Z")
I bought it and listened to it once so far, just like the Rolling Stones album a couple weeks ago. Neither has grown on me yet. I have to stop buying albums just because they’re _important_. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/10 "2023-11-22T12:22:55Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Is that why I heard her doing What’s Going On with Linda Perry a few days ago? I was having trouble imagining Dolly Parton doing an album of Marvin Gaye covers. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/11 "2023-11-22T12:55:00Z")
[After desperately scouring the internet for Dolly covering What’s Going On] To atone for my mistake, I offer you this version of Jolene, digitally altered to sound like a record running at 33rpm and yet still sounds amazing. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CMrfM711vXI/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-AoACoAKKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLADyn-z4ybhXNKmXAG1iza3Ph54TQ "Dolly Parton - Jolene (33rpm slowed down digital version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMrfM711vXI&t=1) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/12 "2023-11-22T12:59:46Z")
Sidenote: I don’t think I ever noticed that the lyrics are ‘what’s going on’ and the song is ‘what’s up’. I don’t think the phrase ‘what’s up’ is even in the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/13 "2023-11-22T15:46:54Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > yet still sounds amazing You can hear all those little vocal inflections that kind of get lost at full speed. She really has quite the control on her voice. The trouble with Dolly doing rock songs, is she still sings like Dolly! That Dolly twang is still there, and it kind of can be distracting in a rock song. But she’s a national treasure! I don’t know about laying down my life, but if she asked me to sing a duet, I’d go in a heartbeat. And I can’t sing! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/14 "2023-11-22T15:56:44Z")
I appreciate Dolly’s talent and her musical legacy, and good on her for putting this out. But I don’t think of her as a “Rock Star”. Of course, the term has different meanings to different people, but to me rock stars have a certain amount of “edge” to them, and if it’s one thing that Dolly lacks, it’s edges 😉 I’d put this album in the same category as Pat Boone’s _No More Mister Nice Guy_ and Paul Anka’s _Rock Swings_. (both of which I have and enjoy from time to time) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/15 "2023-11-23T11:21:11Z")
I’m an ignorant bastard, but actually, how is STH a rock song, other than having originally been done by a rock band? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/16 "2023-11-23T11:40:19Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Sidenote: I don’t think I ever noticed that the lyrics are ‘what’s going on’ and the song is ‘what’s up’. I don’t think the phrase ‘what’s up’ is even in the lyrics. I remember that they deliberately called the song “What’s Up” to avoid confusion with the Marvin Gaye classic. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/17 "2023-11-23T12:22:03Z")
Almost on the topic of country singers doing covers, I just found _The Ghost of Johnny Cash_ on YouTube. Some artists is singing in the style of Johnny Cash. It is hit-and-miss, but sometimes quite nice. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/18 "2023-11-23T12:57:23Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > how is STH a rock song, other than having originally been done by a rock band? The song contains all the hallmarks of rock music (wailing vocals and electric guitars, heavy beat etc.) in its sprawling eight-minute length - it’s not just finger picking and recorders. Further, when a rock band does a softer song for a change, the song doesn’t change genres just because. Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters isn’t classified as pop, country etc. And Led Zeppelin is a quintessential rock band. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/19 "2023-11-24T00:31:32Z")
Dolly was the halftime show at todays Washington - Dallas NFL game. Dressed at a Cowboy Cheerleader. She did some Rock songs, along with some her own songs (Jolene, Nine to Five). ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500/20 "2023-11-24T00:45:11Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Dressed at a Cowboy Cheerleader. It was a bit odd to see a 77 year old Cowboy cheerleader. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-rockstar/993500.md?page=2)