All the ways Dolly Parton has dominated 2023: From 'Rockstar' to Thanksgiving and what's next
2023 has certainly been the year of Dolly.
The iconic songstress, Dolly Parton, has had a career spanning decades and while many of her counterparts are taking it easy in the golden years, Parton seems to have a never-ending list of projects and ventures ahead of her. And she certainly poured herself a cup of ambition in 2023.
From her change in music genre to the expansion of her literacy program to appearing on everything from ESPN to Apple radio, she has had a serious cup of ambition this year. All the while serving looks.
Don't believe us? Here's everything Dolly has done so far in 2023.
Dolly Parton's 'Rockstar' album is now available
It's finally here. The country music icon has turned into a bonafide rock star.
Parton's "Rockstar" album dropped Friday after months of slow releases of songs, teases on ESPN and the announcement of being able to see a concert (a'la Taylor Swift) in theaters as a sneak peak.
“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!’" Parton said with a laugh during a recent interview with Knox News. “But I squalled at it. I mean, I hit it. I got in there.”
Her first rock and roll album was inspired by her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year.
Parton said she was hesitant to try a different musical style because she has such a recognizable tone, but rose to the occasion.
“I really was proud of myself,” Parton said.
One love letter at a time: Dolly Parton cemented her 'Rockstar' legacy one love letter at a time
What songs are on Dolly Parton's "Rockstar"?
“Rockstar” features 30 tracks. She wrote several of the nine original songs, and the others are classic rock anthems. Here's a full list of tracks:
“Rockstar” (special guest Richie Sambora)
“World on Fire”
“Every Breath You Take” (feat. Sting)
“Open Arms” (feat. Steve Perry)
“Magic Man” (feat. Ann Wilson with special guest Howard Leese)
“Long as I Can See the Light” (feat. John Fogerty)
“Either Or” (feat. Kid Rock)
“I Want You Back” (feat. Steven Tyler with special guest Warren Haynes)
“What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You” (feat. Stevie Nicks with special guest Waddy Wachtel)
“Purple Rain”
“Baby, I Love Your Way” (feat. Peter Frampton)
“I Hate Myself for Loving You” (feat. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)
“Night Moves” (feat. Chris Stapleton)
“Wrecking Ball” (feat. Miley Cyrus)
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (feat. P!nk and Brandi Carlile)
“Keep On Loving You” (feat. Kevin Cronin)
“Heart of Glass” (feat. Debbie Harry)
“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (feat. Elton John)
“Tried to Rock and Roll Me” (feat. Melissa Etheridge)
“Stairway to Heaven” (feat. Lizzo and Sasha Flute)
“We Are the Champions”
“Bygones” (feat. Rob Halford with special guests Nikki Sixx and John 5)
“My Blue Tears” (feat. Simon Le Bon)
“What’s Up” (feat. Linda Perry)
“You’re No Good” (feat. Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow)
“Heartbreaker” (feat. Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo)
“Bittersweet” (feat. Michael McDonald)
“I Dreamed About Elvis” (feat. Ronnie McDowell with special guests The Jordanaires)
“Let it Be” (feat. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr with special guests Peter Frampton & Mick Fleetwood)
“Free Bird” (feat. Ronnie Van Zant with special guests Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle and the Artimus Pyle Band)
Dolly Parton and ESPN teamed up with some 'Night Moves'
In September, Parton added a new item to her list of musical accomplishments: Being part of ESPN's Monday Night Football soundtrack.
ESPN announced Sept. 25 that songs from the beloved country, and now rock, singer's album "Rockstar" were added to select weeks of Monday Night Football's franchise soundtrack. The multi-week collaboration started in Week 3 coverage with Parton’s single “Night Moves,” featuring Chris Stapleton. Parton's new music also was used in Week 6 with “Heartbreaker,” featuring Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.
‘Home is in my heart’: Why Dolly Parton's businesses keep expanding in Pigeon Forge
Dolly Parton's Thanksgiving performance during Dallas Cowboys halftime show
On Nov. 23, the Cowboys will play the holiday game against the Washington Commanders. But the important part is the half-time show.
Parton is scheduled to be the headliner for the halftime show during the game. Take a look at her Instagram post for it.
The event will also be the opening act for The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Kickoff, a fundraising campaign, fittingly bringing the queen of philanthropy, Parton herself, to support the campaign.
'Home sweet home to me': Dolly Parton and her Tennessee Vols
The superstar singer and the University of Tennessee have a long history together. She has shared her love with the school and now is doing a special collaboration with the school for her "Rockstar" album.
An exclusive Vols edition of Parton's upcoming album "Rockstar," which will include a live version of Parton singing "Rocky Top," will be available. Parton and UT also collaborated on a co-branded merchandise line.
“My East Tennessee roots run deep, and I am so proud to be partnering with the Vols on a line of merchandise,” Parton said in a school release. “I’ve performed ‘Rocky Top’ so many times live in my concerts through the years, and I know how much that song means to Vols fans. I am thrilled to have the chance to include my version of the song on a special edition of my new Rockstar album as part of this partnership.”
Take a look at the whole story here.
Coming to Neyland: Dolly Parton to cheer on Tennessee football against Georgia at Neyland Stadium: 'See you on Rocky Top'
'It costs me a lot of money to look this cheap': Dolly Parton's sense of style is her own
Parton has always had a defined sense of style, but not everyone was always understanding of the fashion icon.
Speaking during an opening reception for her "Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones" exhibit at Lipscomb University, Parton described her sense of style why not everyone was fan.
"Chet Atkins, one of the greatest guitarists in the world, called me over to the side when I first came to Nashville and he said 'Dolly, you need to calm it down. You look a little trashy and nobody's gonna take you seriously as a songwriter or a singer.' I said 'Well they will if I'm good enough.' Years later, when I didn't tone it down — it got worse — once I became a big star, he came over and said 'Aint you glad you took my advice?'
Don't forget the goats (no not GOAT) at the Academy of Country Music Awards
Parton and Garth Brooks hit the stage together in May for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards and it was hilarious.
The two hosted the award show and their on-stage banter was one of the main highlights of the night. Oh, that and the goat.
As Brooks introduced his co-host during the opening monologue, Parton popped on stage with a pink wheelbarrow and "Clare," a brown-and-white goat. From there, it was just one b-a-a-a-a-d pun after another with some bedroom punchlines thrown it, as The Tennessean's own Marcus Dowling put it.
Take a look at the opening here.
Dollywood gets an upgrade in 2023
On Nov. 3, Parton celebrated the grand opening of HeartSong Lodge, her second Dollywood resort in Pigeon Forge.
The resort is inspired by Parton’s love for the Smokies and is the second hotel operated by the Dollywood Parks and Resorts brand, meaning the singer, songwriter, actress, humanitarian and global icon is adding another worthy title to her name.
"I just love the idea of having a lodge. I like having something that's a little rustic. And I'd say this is high-fashion rustic," Parton said.
Another new roller coaster was also added called Big Bear Mountain.
Knox News got a sneak peek (and early) ride on Dollywood's newest and longest roller coaster before the May 12 opening.
"I can safely say Big Bear Mountain lived up to its family-friendly hype and was a great time," wrote Knox reporter Silas Sloan.
What would Dolly do?
The iconic country music star is back on the radio with her series on Apple Music called "What Would Dolly Do? Radio." A four-part series will air on Apple Music’s global live-streaming radio station Apple Music 1.
The installments delve into facets of Parton's life, she told Today.
“I’ve lived a life of many colors, and I enjoyed the chance to sit down with (co-host) Kelleigh Bannen to discuss different areas of my life and career," Parton said in a prepared statement. "I hope the fans will have as much fun listening as we had recording this!”
The premiere of her show started on Oct. 25.
Episodes can be found on Apple Music.
To the youngest fans around the world, Dolly's giving knows no bounds
Kids may not know her songs, but they do know Parton's kindness.
Since 1995, Parton has made it her goal to give children the gift of reading even before they can. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is not a new venture for the singer but it is a worthwhile one to mention.
"Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. The new program gave each child a specially selected book each month. By mailing high quality, age appropriate books directly to their homes, Dolly wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create," reads a statement from the Library's website.
The biggest thing she wanted to do with the venture was to make books available to children regardless of their family’s income.
As of September, Parton's Imagination Library has gifted more than 218 million free books. In 2023, the program in expanded in multiple states in the U.S.
What will Dolly Parton do next?
We now know everything that Dolly would do, but how did she become the much-beloved icon that is known around the world? Don't worry we will soon have insight on that as well.
In a USA Today Q&A article on the release of her "Rockstar" album, the songstress let it slip that we get a look at how her life took shape in the form of a musical.
"I’m doing my life story as a Broadway musical. I’ve written the music and am recording it now. The script is done, so it’s more about the music and starting to cast," she told USA Today.
While it seems almost ready to debut on Broadway, the musical won't hit the stage until probably 2025.
"I’ve been working on it forever. It’s not a jukebox musical, it’s a true story. It’s a big production and a lot of original songs. Of course, it will have the hit songs and the stories leading up to those things. I had at one time planned to do a biopic but then everybody was doing one so I thought nah, I’m going Broadway. So I’m hoping we make it," Parton said.
Parton has ambition to spare and not letting any bossman shatter her dreams it seems.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Dolly Parton's busy 2023: The 'Rockstar' shows no signs of stopping
