Dolly Parton will soon release her first rock album. The album features many iconic guest stars who will assist Dolly with covers of classic rock songs, including “Stairway to Heaven”. Dolly Parton has recorded a cover of “Stairway to Heaven” in the past, but her decision to do another might have to do with her husband’s reaction to her initial version.
Dolly Parton’s husband had harsh words for her cover of ‘Stairway to Heaven’
In 2002, Dolly Parton released her version of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” on her album Halos and horns. Its cover was a radical departure from the original, converting to a bluegrass soul song instead of the hardcore rock ballad that it is. Her husband, Carl Dean, is an avid rock n’ roll fan, so his opinion was important to Dolly.
In an interview with Today, Parton said her husband loves Led Zeppelin and harshly criticized her cover of “Stairway to Heaven” when she performed it for him.
“He always loved the ‘Stairway to Heaven’. He loved Led Zeppelin,” Parton explained. “And years ago I did ‘Stairway to Heaven’ like a bluegrass, gospel thing. And Carl, I played him, and he said, ‘I think it’s a bit more like’ Stairwell to Hell’ than ‘Stairway to Heaven!’ He didn’t think anybody should do ‘Stairway to Heaven’ but Led Zeppelin. ‘Who’s gonna have the nerve to do that?’ And I was like, ‘Hey fine, I’ll have the nerve.”
Parton got Robert Plant’s endorsement
Although Dolly Parton’s husband may not have been thrilled with her cover, she did get the thumbs up from Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant. Plant wrote the song with guitarist Jimmy Page and recorded it for their untitled fourth studio album from 1971. In an interview with Launch, the British rock singer said he liked Parton’s vocal performance on the song , but that he had questions about the lyrical changes she had made.
“You know, the thing is, she doesn’t whine — she stays in the genre, and she’s a good singer,” Plant explained. “Maybe she didn’t get the last bit right, and maybe that’s how the idioms changed so much, that maybe it doesn’t matter – maybe that’s the way to do it.”
The country singer will cover the song on her next rock album
Parton is releasing an epic rock album later this year. The scrapbook, rock star, will consist of 30 songs and will include covers of classic rock songs as well as Parton originals. The tracklist features many iconic guests, including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Stevie Nicks, Miley Cyrus, P!nk, Steven Tyler and Pat Benatar. “Stairway to Heaven” is featured on the album and will feature Parton singing along with Lizzo.
The album comes after the “Jolene” singer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. In an interview with Pollstar, Parton said she always wanted to make a rock album for her husband, and she thought now would be the perfect time.
“When I was nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I thought, ‘Well, no better time to do it,'” Dolly said. “I’ve always wanted to do it. My husband is a huge hard rock ‘n’ roll fan, and for years I thought, ‘One of these days I’d like to do an album mostly just for him, just to kind of do it.’ When I got nominated, I thought, ‘Why not just go ahead and do it while the iron is hot? Maybe some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll legends will sing along.