Dolly Parton
Vijat Mohindra

Dolly Parton Has Always Been a Rockstar

From a '90s favorite to a Beatles classic, here are 5 must-hear moments from Dolly's 'Rockstar.'

In 2022, Dolly Parton was listed among the nominees for the 2022 inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the latest in a long line of rockstar moves, she turned it down.

The music icon wrote that while she was "extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated," she didn't feel that she'd "earned that right" to a space in the Rock Hall.

"I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out," Parton shared.

Well, she was inducted anyway. And by the time the country queen announced that she would, in fact, gracefully accept the honor, it's clear that Dolly's high heels were already in motion -- strutting right into her rocker era.

"I am honored and humbled by the fact that I have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Of course I will accept gracefully," Parton wrote after the announcement was made. "Thanks to everyone that voted for me and to everyone at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I will continue to work hard and try to live up to the honor."

Parton's induction ceremony further proved that Dolly has "rock and roll down in [her] country soul," taking the stage to sing with Pink, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Annie Lennox, Pat Benetar and Judas Priest's Rob Halford.

"And you thought I couldn't rock!" she joked with the audience, before strumming a Superstrat and launching into her new song "Rockin'," which would go on to be the lead track on her first ever rock album. Simply put, if Dolly was going to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she was damn sure going to do it her way.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 05: Inductee Dolly Parton performs on stage during the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on November 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

A few months later, Parton announced her 30-track album Rockstar (out Nov. 17), for which she enlisted Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Stevie Nicks, Sting, Lizzo, Pat Benetar and more.

And while this may be Parton's first official rock album, the singer-songwriter has always exuded a rockstar mentality by remaining committed to doing exactly what she wants, whether it's wisely ignoring critics who told her to tone down her look or her savvy decision to maintain ownership of her songs -- even if that means turning down the King of Rock and Roll.

In honor of Dolly's Rockstar era, here are 5 standout rockstar moments from her latest album.

 

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