Few stars shine as bright and so uniquely as Dolly Parton and Hank Williams. Yet, for how formative these two have been, it seems inconceivable that these two giants never worked together, with Williams dying shortly after Parton started her career.
Thanks to AI, however, modern audiences can experience what a duet between these two would look like. To this day, Williams is considered one of the most impactful songwriters of the 20th century. Parton likewise boasts decades as an influential artist and pop culture icon. So, what if these two go to work together? Against the cruel will of time, fans can have some idea.
AI brings together the stylings of Hank Williams and Dolly Parton
The folks over at American Songwriter turned to ChatGPT and asked the AI-driven language processing tool to generate a song as if it were made by both Parton and Williams. The program produced a series of verses that alternate between Williams and Parton in a conversational style.
Dolly:
Well, Hank, it’s a pleasure to be here tonight,
Underneath that Tennessee moon so bright.
Your voice, it cuts through like a knife,
Let’s sing a little song ’bout this old life.
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She’s then responded to as the two fall into the role of storyteller, bonded by a deep and profound history in country music.
Hank:
Dolly, darlin’, it’s an honor, that’s for sure,
With your golden locks and heart so pure.
In this honky-tonk, where the neon glows,
Let’s tell a story only country music knows.
This computer-generated song touches upon their biggest themes
The chorus ties it all together, uniting both artists to deliver a mutual message that touches on the heart of what they value in the country music genre.
Chorus:
Both:
We’ll sing about love, and we’ll sing about pain,
In this duet of sunshine and rain.
Two hearts, two voices, in harmony we’ll sway,
In the grand tradition of the good ol’ USA.
The two continue to pay tribute to the south, celebrating its natural beauty like its a character in its own right – all while also celebrating each other.
Dolly:
Hank, you had your lonesome, heartbreakin’ ways,
But your songs, they’ve stood the test of days.
From the mountains of Kentucky to the Texas plains,
Let’s keep that country spirit runnin’ through our veins.
Hank:
Dolly, your voice is sweet as honey from the bees,
And your spirit shines through them melodies.
From the Smoky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico,
Together, we’ll put on quite a show.
At this point, ChatGPT has the chorus play once again, with Parton and Williams reiterating a message of love, loss, sun and clouds, opposite forces that combine to create a fully realized, incredible picture. Then, the song touches upon the ways these two have become irrevocable parts of the country genre.
Dolly:
Hank, your legacy’s written in the stars so high,
And I’m grateful for this chance to touch the sky.
With your twang and my rhinestones so bright,
We’ll light up the stage tonight.
Hank:
Dolly, you’re a diamond, nothin’ less,
In that sequined dress, you sure impress.
With a heart as big as the Tennessee sky,
Together, we’ll reach new heights so high.
Finally, their tribute turns outward even further, beyond their beloved landscapes, valleys, mountains, and rivers – and these two legends from different eras, who only just missed each other, celebrate all their brethren who shaped country music and will continue to do so.
Both:
So here’s to country music, our southern kin,
In this timeless duet, let the show begin.
With Dolly and Hank, and our guitars strummin’ away,
We’ll keep the spirit of country alive every day.
Each artist had their own idea of what to write about and how to express themselves. Parton famously transcended multiple genres to earn recognition from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and sang just as much about insecurity – see “Jolene” – as she did the plight of the everyday worker, such as in “9 to 5.” Williams allowed some of his personal woes to seep into his songs, such as with “Cold Cold Heart,” which is presumed to be about his marital problems. He also captures the spirit of adventure in “Ramblin’ Man,” which acts as a love letter to America and its sweeping beauty in its own right too.
Considering the versatility of these artists, it’s easy to see that, until humanity invents a time machine, fans may have just been treated to a pretty close estimation of how these two would write a song together.
