Part 2
But then she learned the honor was broader than she thought. The Rock Hall isn’t just for hard rock—it’s for anyone who’s had a massive impact on popular music. Once she realized that, she accepted gracefully. “If they put me in anyway, I would certainly accept it gracefully,” she said. And she did more than that: she wrote a song about it with the Zach Brown Band, turning her hesitation into a musical story.
That moment of acceptance opened a door she’d been eyeing for years. Dolly’s husband, Carl Dean, is a self-proclaimed rock ’n’ roll freak. She’d always thought about making a rock record, but the timing never felt right. Now, with the Rock Hall induction shining a spotlight on her rock credentials, she decided to go for it. “I’m good about timing,” she said. “So I’d always thought I might want to do a rock record ’cause my husband is a rock ’n’ roll freak. So anyway, I thought, ‘Well, if I’m ever gonna do it, now’s the time.’”
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And what a record it’s shaping up to be. Titled Rock Star, it’s set to drop in fall 2023. Dolly’s not holding back: she’s covering iconic rock anthems like “Purple Rain,” “Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” “Stairway to Heaven,” and even “Free Bird.” Yes, Dolly Parton is tackling Lynyrd Skynyrd’s epic. She’s also written original songs and lined up a slew of guest artists. “I’m gonna have a few guest artists,” she teased. “But anyway…”
When Fallon asked if she was excited, she laughed and said, “I’m making an album, too, ’cause I have to live up to all that hype.” That’s Dolly in a nutshell: humble, hilarious, and ready to prove she belongs—even in a genre she never claimed as her own.
So why did Dolly finally say yes to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Because she realized it wasn’t about genre—it was about legacy. And if anyone’s earned a place in the rock pantheon, it’s the woman who can go from “Jolene” to “Free Bird” without missing a beat.
New Year's Eve in Miami: Dolly and Miley Cyrus Team Up
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The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction was just the warm-up. Dolly Parton isn't done rocking. Next stop: New Year's Eve in Miami, where she's co-hosting a live special with Miley Cyrus. Yes, you read that right. Dolly and Miley. Miami. New Year's Eve. Let the chaos begin.
In the interview, Dolly lights up when the topic turns to Miley. 'We are,' she confirms, beaming. 'In Miami, with Miley, on New Year's Eve. Can you imagine that?' She doesn't need to sell it. The audience is already cheering. But Dolly adds, 'We're gonna have great fun.' And she means it. She and Miley share more than a godmother-goddaughter bond; they share a sense of showmanship. Dolly even jokes that Miley loves Jimmy Fallon, and the feeling is mutual. 'She loves you, too, by the way,' Dolly tells Fallon, who blushes. 'I say 'too' because I love you.' It's the kind of off-the-cuff charm that makes you want to tune in.
What can we expect from the live show? Dolly promises ad-libbing, duets, and rock elements. 'I'm sure we'll ad-lib a whole lot of things,' she says. 'And we're gonna do some songs together and a few rock things with some of the artists she's gonna have there.' Then she adds with a wink, 'Lord knows what could happen with Miley and me.' That's not just hype. That's a warning. And honestly? It's exactly what we want.
But the Dolly-Miley team-up isn't the only musical surprise in this interview. Dolly also spills the beans about a duet with Jimmy Fallon himself. It turns out Fallon wrote a Christmas song and asked Dolly to sing it with him. She said yes, of course. The result? 'Almost Too Early for Christmas,' a holiday tune they released in October. And it went straight to number one on the iTunes charts. Not bad for a song that came out before Halloween.
Dolly credits Fallon's talent, even if he doesn't. 'I told him years ago, I asked him to sing with me on another song, and he said, 'Oh, I don't really think of myself as a serious singer. I just like to have fun,'' Dolly recalls. 'I said, 'I think you're a great singer.'' That encouragement eventually led to this year's duet. Fallon sent her the song, she loved it, and they recorded it. They even performed it on The Tonight Show. 'We did it in the show, too,' Dolly says. And the rest is history.
The timing was unusual, but it worked. 'Releasing a holiday song in October works. Who knew?' Dolly quips. It's a line that sums up her whole approach: break the rules, have fun, and let the magic happen. And that's exactly what she's bringing to New Year's Eve.
So mark your calendars. Dolly and Miley in Miami is going to be a wild ride. If the interview is any indication, expect the unexpected. And if you can't wait that long, you can always rewatch their previous collaborations. But trust me, this one is going to be special.
Mountain Magic Christmas: The Special That Brings the Smokies to Your Living Room
Now, before we get to the big finale, let’s stop at the part of the interview that feels like a warm hug from the Smoky Mountains. Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas is not just another holiday special—it’s a two-hour joyride through Dollywood, and it aired on NBC in December 2022. If you missed it, you missed Jimmy Fallon dancing like nobody was watching, Willie Nelson being Willie Nelson, and a bear story that will make you laugh until you cry. So grab a cup of cocoa, because we’re about to take a tour of the special that brought a little bit of Tennessee to your living room.
