Dolly Parton is making a rock album. The Grand Ole Opry member, who will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 5, reveals that she is currently working on a new set of tunes, and this one will definitely not be country.
“When I got nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I thought ‘Well, no better time to do it,'” Parton tells Pollstar. “I had always wanted to do it. My husband is a big hard rock ’n’ roll fan, and for years I thought, ‘One of these days I’d like to do an album mainly just for him, just to kind of do it.’ When I got nominated, I thought, ‘Why not just go ahead and do it while the iron’s hot?’ Maybe [I’ll] have some of the greats, the legends of rock ‘n’ roll sing along with me.”
Indeed, the 76-year-old has already reached out to several artists, with plans to collaborate with them on her forthcoming new project.
“I’m gathering all that stuff and notifying a few people,” reveals the singer. “When I get leveled out from finishing the movie [ Run, Rose, Run], hopefully I’m going to have a real good album. I’m looking forward to it.”
Parton is now grateful to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, even if she first tried to withdraw her name from the potential list of nominees.
“I have to honestly say, I’m very grateful and honored, but I’m also the kind of person – I had to do a rock album, because if I’m going to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I’m going to by God earn it!” Parton says with a laugh. “That’s my attitude toward it. There’s no way I’m not going to do an album, so people can see that I could and can do it.”
When Parton tried to rescind her nomination, it was because her entire career has been entrenched in country music. Her hesitation was less from feeling worthy, and more from believing that there were others who were more worthy of the honor and recongition.
“I was like a whole lot of people; I always felt the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was for rock ‘n’ roll people, who spent their lives, time, energy and talent in the rock ‘n’ roll field,” the Country Music Hall of Fame member explains. “I didn’t realize all the people who had gotten in who weren’t really rock ‘n’ roll, but I still stand by my thing. When I said I didn’t want to do it, I didn’t want to take votes from someone who’d spent their life in that. But I said, if they put me there, I will accept gracefully. And I will.”
Parton also recently announced that she would no longer go on massive tours, preferring to stay closer to home, and to her husband, Carl Dean, whom she married in 1966.
“I do not think I will ever tour again, but I do know I’ll do special shows here and there, now and then,” Parton says. “Maybe do a long weekend of shows, or just a few shows at a festival. But I have no intention of going on a full-blown tour anymore. I’ve done that my whole life, and it takes so much time and energy.”
Parton will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Carly Simon and Eminem, The ceremony will take place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.