Nashville, Tennessee – Dolly Parton, the legendary country music icon, has revealed that her husband of 57 years, Carl Dean, played a significant role in inspiring her forthcoming rock album, titled “Rockstar.”
In an interview with ABC News on Monday, Parton shared that her husband’s enduring affection for rock music, which he has been a fan of since she met him in 1964, influenced her decision to explore a new musical genre. She noted that their differing musical tastes have actually been beneficial for their relationship, as it provides them with diverse topics of conversation.
Parton’s journey into rock music was set in motion in 2022 when she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—an honor she initially hesitated to accept, feeling she hadn’t “earned that right” at the time. It was shortly after this induction that she began working on “Rockstar.”
Speaking about her motivation to delve into rock music, Parton mentioned, “I did it because I’m in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.” She credited her husband, Carl Dean, for encouraging her to seize the opportunity, stating that he played a pivotal role in her decision.
“Rockstar” boasts a total of 30 tracks, featuring nine original songs and 21 cover versions of rock classics. The album includes a rendition of “Let It Be” with both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as collaborations with music icons like Elton John, Stevie Nicks, and Peter Frampton, among others.
One of the standout cover songs is Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” performed in collaboration with Lizzo, which garnered praise from Carl Dean. Parton emphasized the significance of her husband’s approval, stating, “For him to say, ‘That’s pretty good,’ he meant it’s really good. And that meant more to me than for anybody else to say the record was good.”
Parton explained that her selection of the 21 cover songs was greatly influenced by her husband’s musical preferences. She expressed that “most” of the songs were chosen because of Dean’s fondness for them, underlining his keen sense of what constitutes “good music.”
“Rockstar” is scheduled for release on November 1, and Dolly Parton’s full interview with ABC will air on Tuesday at 10 p.m. EST.