Dolly Parton Tops Rock Charts With New Song

Dolly Parton is breaking new ground this week as her latest single from her upcoming Rockstar album "Bygones" featuring Rob Halford with special guests Nikki Sixx and John 5 debuts atop the Mediabase Classic Rock Songs chart.

With #1s throughout her 7-decade career across Country, Pop, AC, Dance, Christian, Bluegrass, Folk/Americana, Holiday, and now Rock, Parton continues to make history.

Dolly said in a statement, "I am so excited to see the response 'Bygones' is receiving! To debut at #1 on the Rock charts is such a thrill for me, and it makes it even sweeter to share this with Rob, Nikki, and John 5."

She added, "I also have to recognize my coproducer on the album and co-writer on this song, Kent Wells, who helped me bring this song to life. I am a happy girl today!"

"Bygones" follows the lead single from Rockstar, "World On Fire"— another Parton original — that became the album's album's first #1 when it peaked atop Billboard's Rock Digital Song Sales chart in May.

Parton recently revealed to ET Canada that she and Lainey Wilson would release a duet in honor of The Judds. Dolly said when asked about it, "With Lainey Wilson…. I just did with her; we've got a song we did for The Judds. They're doing an album for The Judds for mental illness and some of the problems that [Naomi Judd] had."

She added, "So they're they're doing a whole album of the songs, and I got to do 'Mama He's Crazy' with Lainey. I don't even know her. So, I'm going to get a chance to visit."

Parton with the ACM's Female Artist award earlier this month (5/11). When she took the stage to accept the honor, Wilson said, "I can'tcan't believe I just met Dolly Parton: first of all, whoa!" She said, "And ladies in this category, thank you so much. I am up here because of you all. Because of people like Dolly Parton are paving the way. And I tell you what, everybody in this category didn't just wind up there by happenstance; they have worked their fingers to the bone; they have put blood, sweat, tears, and years into this."

As we reported earlier this week, Dolly Parton has announced the album release date and track listing for her much-anticipated rock album, Rockstar. She began the album project after getting nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, telling Billboard, "This may have been just a God-wink for me to go ahead and do that." She added, "If I'm gonna be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I'm gonna have to do something to earn it."

The album, which will be released on November 17, 2023, features a whos who of rock and roll royalty, including a version of "Let It Be" featuring both surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. It also features the late Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, who died in March, on a version of "Freebird." She sings with Sting, Kid Rock, Joan Jett, and Elton John, just to name a few, and the project features a total of 30 songs.

Parton said in a statement, "I'm so excited to finally present my first Rock and Roll album, Rockstar! I am very honored and privileged to have worked with some of the greatest iconic singers and musicians of all time, and to be able to sing all the iconic songs throughout the album was a joy beyond measure. I hope everybody enjoys the album as much as I've enjoyed putting it together!"

Dolly is releasing a couple of vinyl box sets with different album cover images on them. One vinyl box set comes with red vinyl, and the other comes with clear color vinyl. You can order them along with bundles at her website Dollyparton.com.

As we wait for November to hear the majority of the songs (Dolly will sing one song called "World On Fire" at the ACM Awards this week), we take a look at the three different and fun images she has released for the album as well as a cool photo for the cover of her new rock single "World On Fire."