Dolly Parton Wishes to Reunite Led Zeppelin For Her Brand-New Rock Album

In order to include a cover of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ on her forthcoming rock album, Dolly Parton wants to bring Led Zeppelin back together.

Parton made headlines earlier this year when she requested to be removed from consideration for the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame despite being nominated for the honour.

Parton explained that the nomination had motivated her to put out a hopefully fantastic rock 'n' roll album at some point in the future, which she has always wanted to do.

It appears that Parton will actually proceed with the endeavour, given that renowned producer Steve Albini has offered to produce the album.

The iconic singer stated in a recent interview that she hopes to reunite Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin for the recording of a new version of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ for the album.

The legendary song was previously recorded by Parton for her bluegrass album ‘Halos & Horns’ in 2002.

Asked if she was working on the rock’n’roll album, she said: “Well, I am. When I got nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I thought, ‘Well, no better time to do it.’ I had always wanted to do it. My husband is a big hard rock ’n’ roll fan, and for years I thought, ‘One of these days I’d like to do an album mainly 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’s hot?  Maybe have some of the greats, the legends of rock ‘n’ roll sing along with me.'”

She added: “I’m gathering all that stuff and notifying a few people. When I get levelled out from finishing the movie [Run, Rose, Run], hopefully I’m going to have a real good album. I’m looking forward to it.”

Talking about her attempts to reunite Led Zeppelin, Parton added that her husband didn't like it when she revealed her plans to cover ‘Stairway To Heaven’, saying: “But I’m going to redo that really on the money. I did it kind of bluegrass-style when I did it; but when I do the rock album, I’m going to actually re-record it – and do it more true to the regular record.”

“I’m trying to see if Robert Plant might sing on it. Maybe Jimmy Page might do the pick-up part on it.  I’m looking forward to dragging in some of the great classic people, girls and boys, to sing on some of the songs. I’m not far enough along to discuss who and what, but I am going to do an album.”

The legendary Parton song ‘9 to 5’ was recreated by Parton and Kelly Clarkson and released last month. At the March premiere of the documentary, ‘Still Working 9 to 5’, the revised duet of the song which appeared on the soundtrack of the 1980 movie of the same name was first previewed. The documentary explores the enduring impact of the movie, which also starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton.

---Silviya.Y