Dolly Parton‘s 30-track Rockstar album is out on November 17, but she already has her eyes on another, entirely different kind of record. Joined on Rockstar by some of rock music’s biggest legends, including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, Linda Perry, Michael McDonald, Peter Frampton and more, the 77-year-old wants to do another, similar project,t his one about her faith.
“One of the things I want to do next and to leave for my legacy is that ultimate great gospel album, and done up in the same way that I’ve done this rock album,” Parton hints on Apple Music’s What Would Dolly Do? Radio. “Really great productions, whether they be small or large, and to bring in some of the great people that have grown up in the gospel field or some of the people that are famous in the gospel field.
“To do that great uplifting album… gospel might not be the right word, although we will do gospel in it, but more uplifting, inspirational songs,” she continues. “I want to leave that behind. Well, who knows if it’ll be the last one, but I definitely want to have that one as one of the last things that I do. In fact, I may start on that one before I do anything else.”
One of the most successful artists, of all time, of any genre, it’s her faith that Parton credits with helping her achieve so much in her legendary career.
“I’ve been grateful for every good thing ever happened,” Parton tells The Guardian. “God has always blessed me, surrounded me with good people. I pray that every day God will bring all the right things, all the right people, into my life.”
Parton likely would have never even done Rockstar, if not for her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an invitation she initially turned down.
“There are more people out there that spent their whole life in rock and roll that I felt deserved it more than me,” Parton explains. “I thought, ‘Well, I didn’t understand all the reasons they give it to you,’ but I still say, ‘If you’re going to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, you need to earn it,’ which is what prompted me to go ahead and do the rock and roll album. I think it’s some of my best work, but timing is everything. I’ve often talked about doing it but, at my age, chances are I would not have done it.
“When they wanted to put me in the Hall of Fame, I didn’t want to go,” she admits. “They put me in anyway, so then I’m like my daddy, I don’t want nothing that I don’t earn. That’s when I thought, ‘Well, it’s now or never.'”
Find Rockstar and all of Parton’s music at DollyParton.com.
Read ‘Dolly Parton: 11 Things to Know About the Country Music Queen’ here.