As we get closer to November and Dolly Parton’s Rockstar album release date approaches, we’ve received another taste of the album in the form of a cover.
Taking on one of the most well-known Beatles tracks, Let It Be, Parton teamed up with some friends – Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – for an unexpectedly great collaboration.
Starting the track on the piano, Parton’s comforting, wilting vocal combined with Paul McCartney’s melodic harmony makes for a perfect singing performance. How about the rest?
Well, Ringo Starr is elegant on the drums, while further special guests Peter Frampton, who provides a poignant guitar solo, and Mick Fleetwood’s extra percussion helps transform an already epic song into something extra special.
“Well, does it get any better than singing ‘Let It Be’ with Paul McCartney, who wrote the song? Not only that, he played piano! Well, it did get even better when Ringo Starr joined in on drums, Peter Frampton on guitar and Mick Fleetwood playing percussion,” Parton shared on her website. “I mean, seriously, how much better does it get? Thanks, guys!”
You can listen to Let It Be by Dolly Parton featuring Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton and Mick Fleetwood below.
“Thanks Dolly for doing my song. I love your version and am very pleased to be by your side on this one,” McCartney wrote in the YouTube comments. “Rock on ! Love Paul”.
While it’s not the first time Parton has covered The Beatles – she covered Help in 1979 – it’s the first time she’s worked with members of The Beatles.
Let It Be follows the already-released singles from Rockstar, including Parton’s cover of Queen’s We Are The Champions, World On Fire, which she performed for the first time at the 58th ACM Awards, Bygones starring Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford and Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx and guitarist John 5, and a cover of Heart’s Magic Man, featuring guest vocalist Ann Wilson of Heart fame.
Rockstar will be released on Friday, 17 November, via the singer’s independent Butterfly Records.
Rockstar arrives after Parton’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, an honour she didn’t feel she deserved at the time but is now rectifying with a stacked rock and roll album.
“I am very honored [sic] 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,” she wrote on her website. “I hope everybody enjoys the album as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together!”
Check out the full tracklist here and pre-order the album here.