Dolly Parton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. She did not feel like she deserved the honor and even tried rejecting it. Her request fell on deaf ears and she has another accolade in her repertoire. But ever since, Parton has been determined to, in her views, become worthy of the distinction, and her solution is Rockstar, her new behemoth of a rock album featuring star-studded collaborations across two hours of fresh takes on old favorites.
Parton released Rockstar on November 17 and she feels good about the final product, despite some early reservations. “I really was proud of myself,” she admitted. “I thought, well, I’m just going to go for it. If it turns out great, great. And if it don’t, I’ll say ‘Erase that right now!’ But I squalled at it. I mean, I hit it. I got in there.” How do others feel about Rockstar, though? Over on ABC 12 News, is a huge fan. Here’s why.
Dolly Parton releases the motherload of all albums with ‘Rockstar’
Album runtimes vary from artist to artist, but some norms can be expected. Paul Cantor over on Medium suggests 45 is a good medium, especially from the ’80s. Rockstar by Parton runs for two and a half hours. For it, she recruited some of the biggest and most iconic names in music, including Pink, goddaughter Miley Cyrus, Stevie Nicks, Sting, Elton John, Lizzo, John Fogerty, Kid Rock, Pat Benatar, and many more.
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This team of contributing artists has given Parton a lot to work with, notes listener Heching in his review. Of particular interest were “fun moments including original team-ups with Stevie Nicks, Melissa Etheridge and Ronnie McDowell” in which “their banter back and forth is just as engaging as the actual singing.” So, listeners aren’t just getting a musical experience – they’re getting a journey shared between Parton and some of the industry’s best.
Does Dolly Parton have what it takes to be a rockstar?
How does the music aspect hold up in Rockstar? calls the album an “event” both for its runtime and the star power it brings forth – and uses to its full potential. Contributing to this is that Parton shows how she would be a rockstar; the album is not comprised entirely of covers but also contributes some original work.
Perhaps most true to the spirit of the genre, Parton’s “World on Fire” is a profound, exhilarating commentary on the state of the world today. This track has gained extensive praise online, with one fan gushing, “This blows my mind. Dolly’s voice has become even more distinct in her older years. She has more character than ever in her performance. For anyone who complains that all today’s artists sound the same, maybe it’s time to pop in a Dolly Parton song and see how it should be done.”
Another praised, “Dolly, I turned 55 this year, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of your career. Go ahead and be the ‘Rockstar’ we’ve always known you are. God bless you.”
However, Heching does warn listeners that they may be in for a “mixed bag” when it comes to the covers and original tracks alike, highlighting Kid Rock, along with Fogerty’s slower presentation of “Long As I Can See the Light” as something of a letdown.
Have you listened to the new album and what are your favorite tracks?