November 19th 2023.
Saturday was a special day for Dolly Parton and the University of Tennessee as the 77-year-old country music icon returned to her roots in Knoxville and was escorted onto the pitch at Neyland Stadium by NFL legend Peyton Manning. Dressed in bedazzled orange trousers and a sparkly white jacket adorned with stars and chains, Dolly smiled brightly as she looped arms with Manning.
The performance didn't go off without a hitch, however. According to Knox News, technical issues hit her performance with the university’s choir as she belted out Rocky Top. Dolly later told CBS: "I couldn't hear because my sound went out and the stadium was so loud. It's just great to be home."
The stadium performance came after Dolly released her first ever rock album, Rockstar. The critically acclaimed album includes nine originals and 21 classic rock covers alongside guest turns from famous friends, like Paul McCartney, Debbie Harry and Sir Elton John.
Speaking about the album to The Agency last week, Dolly revealed what inspired her to make a rock record. She said: "I'd often thought I might want to do a rock album at some point. I'd done a few rock songs scattered here and there on my albums, and I'd done some covers of rock songs, making them kind of Country or bluegrassy. But when I got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, a place in my heart said I hadn't really earned that position. I thought 'If I'm ever going to do a rock album, I want to earn it'. I'm big on timing. It seemed the right thing to do at the right time. I'm proud I did it and I'm real proud of how it turned out."
The performance at Neyland Stadium was a reminder of Dolly's roots as a musician when she was just a teenager, and the crowd welcomed her with open arms. What's your favourite Dolly Parton song?
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