FRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: (L-R) Lainey Wilson accepts the Female Artist of the Year award from co-host Dolly Parton onstage during the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.
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There's a Dolly Parton and Lainey Wilson Collaboration on the Way

During the buildup to her 2023 ACM Awards co-hosting gig, Dolly Parton spilled the beans to ET Canada about a multi-generational country collaboration that honors one of the genre's greatest mother-daughter duos.

"With Lainey Wilson.... I just did, with her, we've got a song we did for The Judds," Parton shared. "They're doing an album for The Judds for mental illness and some of the problems that [Naomi Judd] had. So they're doing a whole album of the songs, and I got to do 'Mama He's Crazy' with Lainey. I don't even know her. So, I'm going to get a chance to visit."

It's the first detail shared so far about a Judds tribute album.

During the ACM Awards last Thursday (May 11), Parton sang gospel standard "Precious Memories" a cappella in memory of two dearly-departed friends and fellow Country Music Hall of Famers: Naomi Judd and Loretta Lynn.

Wilson thinks Parton is the G.O.A.T., per her song "W.W.D.D." (short for "What Would Dolly Do") and numerous interview excerpts.

"I think we would get along just great. We haven't met yet. We have not met, but I think we would be best buds," Wilson told. "I think [Parton is] best buds with anybody, probably. I'm telling you, Dolly Parton, hands down, [is] one of the biggest inspirations, I mean, for so many people around the world. I mean, who she is, the way she tells it how it is with a little bow wrapped on top, she's just a good person and has a heart of gold. I think if we were all a little bit more like her, the world would be a much better place."

Per Wilson's ACM Female Artist of the Year acceptance speech, she indeed met her hero that night.

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