Studio Album · No. 40
Rockstar Songwriting Credits by Dolly Parton
RockCountry Pop
30%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 9 of 30 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 30 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 30 tracks with documented writers, by whether Dolly Parton carries a lyricist or composer credit.
9 trackswritten by Dolly Parton
21 tracksoutside writers
Dolly Parton's roles on this album
Share of the 30 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist30%
Composer30%
Producer3%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
30
Tracks
41
Lyricists
2
Producers
1
No.1 Single
Debuted with 128,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on Top Album Sales, Top Country Albums, and Top Rock & Alternative Albums
Worldwide Copies Sold
2023
Released
Data Insight
Rockstar is built mostly from classic-rock covers, with Parton singing alongside the artists who first made the songs famous. Sting appears on "Every Breath You Take," Steve Perry on "Open Arms," Elton John on "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," and Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on "Let It Be," while the writing credits on those tracks stay with their original authors. The handful of originals come from Parton's own pen, including "World on Fire," the title track "Rockstar," and "My Blue Tears," plus the Kent Wells co-writes "Either Or," "I Want You Back," "Tried to Rock and Roll Me," and "Bygones." Parton and Wells produced the record across thirty tracks that frame her voice against guitar-driven arrangements rather than her usual country setting.
Released November 17, 2023, Rockstar was Parton's forty-ninth solo studio album and her first full-length venture into rock music, inspired by her 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, which she initially declined before deciding to justify the honor with a dedicated rock album. The album was produced by Parton and Kent Wells, with mixing by Chris Lord-Alge and mastering by Ted Jensen, and features more than 80 collaborating musicians across two discs. The set blends original compositions (including 'Rockstar,' 'World on Fire,' and 'I Dreamed About Elvis' written by Parton and/or Wells) with classic rock covers credited to their original songwriters, such as Prince's 'Purple Rain' and Lennon-McCartney's 'Let It Be,' with guest appearances by Rob Halford, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and numerous other rock luminaries. It debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 with 128,000 album-equivalent units, became the first album to top Billboard's Top Album Sales chart in its debut week, and simultaneously reached number 1 on both Top Country Albums and Top Rock Albums. It earned Gold certification and received a Metacritic score of 65/100.
Track Listing & Credits 30 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Rockstar
|
Dolly Rebecca Parton | Dolly Rebecca Parton | Kent Wells | Richie Sambora (Vocals) |
| 2 |
World On Fire
#21
|
Dolly Rebecca Parton | Dolly Rebecca Parton | Kent Wells | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
Every Breath You Take
|
Sting | Sting | Kent Wells | Sting (Vocals) |
| 4 |
Open Arms
|
Jonathan CainSteve Perry | Jonathan CainSteve Perry | Kent Wells | Steve Perry (Vocals) |
| 5 |
Magic Man (Carl Version)
|
Nancy WilsonAnn Wilson | Nancy WilsonAnn Wilson | Kent Wells | Ann Wilson (Vocals) |
| 6 |
Long As I Can See The Light
|
John Fogerty | John Fogerty | Kent Wells | John Fogerty (Vocals) |
| 7 |
Either Or
|
Dolly Rebecca PartonKent Wells | Dolly Rebecca PartonKent Wells | Kent Wells | Kid Rock (Vocals) |
| 8 |
I Want You Back
|
Dolly Rebecca PartonKent Wells | Dolly Rebecca PartonKent Wells | Kent Wells | Steven Tyler (Vocals) |
| 9 |
What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You
|
Stevie NicksKevin DukesJennifer Condos | Stevie NicksKevin DukesJennifer Condos | Kent Wells | Stevie Nicks (Vocals) |
| 10 |
Purple Rain
|
Prince | Prince | Kent Wells | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Baby, I Love Your Way
|
Peter Frampton | Peter Frampton | Kent Wells | Peter Frampton (Vocals) |
| 12 |
I Hate Myself For Loving You
|
Desmond ChildJoan Jett | Desmond ChildJoan Jett | Kent Wells | Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (Vocals) |
| 13 |
Night Moves
|
Bob Seger | Bob Seger | Kent Wells | Chris Stapleton (Vocals) |
| 14 |
Wrecking Ball
|
Stephan MoccioSacha SkarbekMoZellaDr. LukeCirkutDavid Yungin Kim | Stephan MoccioSacha SkarbekMoZellaDr. LukeCirkutDavid Yungin Kim | Kent Wells | Miley Cyrus (Vocals) |
| 15 |
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
|
Keith RichardsMick Jagger | Keith RichardsMick Jagger | Kent Wells | P!nk (Vocals)Brandi Carlile (Vocals) |
| 16 |
Keep On Loving You
|
Kevin Cronin | Kevin Cronin | Kent Wells | Kevin Cronin (Vocals) |
| 17 |
Heart of Glass
|
Debbie HarryChris Stein | Debbie HarryChris Stein | Kent Wells | Debbie Harry (Vocals) |
| 18 |
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me
|
Elton JohnBernie Taupin | Elton JohnBernie Taupin | Kent Wells | Elton John (Vocals) |
| 19 |
Tried To Rock And Roll Me
|
Kent WellsDolly Rebecca Parton | Kent WellsDolly Rebecca Parton | Kent Wells | Melissa Etheridge (Vocals) |
| 20 |
Stairway to Heaven
|
Robert PlantJimmy Page | Robert PlantJimmy Page | Kent WellsDolly Rebecca Parton | Lizzo (Vocals) |
| 21 |
We Are The Champions / We Will Rock You
|
Freddie MercuryBrian May | Freddie MercuryBrian May | Kent Wells | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 22 |
Bygones
|
Dolly Rebecca PartonKent Wells | Dolly Rebecca PartonKent Wells | Kent Wells | Rob Halford (Vocals)Nikki Sixx (Vocals) |
| 23 |
My Blue Tears
|
Dolly Rebecca Parton | Dolly Rebecca Parton | Kent Wells | Simon Le Bon (Vocals) |
| 24 |
What’s Up?
|
Linda Perry | Linda Perry | Kent Wells | Linda Perry (Vocals) |
| 25 |
You’re No Good
|
Clint Ballard Jr. | Clint Ballard Jr. | Kent Wells | Emmylou Harris (Vocals)Sheryl Crow (Vocals) |
| 26 |
Heartbreaker
|
Cliff WadeGeoff Gill | Cliff WadeGeoff Gill | Kent Wells | Pat Benatar (Vocals)Neil Giraldo (Vocals) |
| 27 |
Bittersweet
|
Dolly Rebecca Parton | Dolly Rebecca Parton | Kent Wells | Michael McDonald (Vocals) |
| 28 |
I Dreamed About Elvis
|
Dolly Rebecca Parton | Dolly Rebecca Parton | Kent Wells | Ronnie McDowell (Vocals) |
| 29 |
Let It Be
|
John LennonPaul McCartney | John LennonPaul McCartney | Kent Wells | Paul McCartney (Vocals)Ringo Starr (Vocals)Peter Frampton (Vocals)Mick Fleetwood (Vocals) |
| 30 |
Free Bird
|
Allen CollinsRonnie Van Zant | Allen CollinsRonnie Van Zant | Kent Wells | Lynyrd Skynyrd (Vocals) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 64 contributors
DR
Dolly Rebecca Parton
Writer · Producer
KW
Kent Wells
Writer · Producer
AC
Allen Collins
Writer
AW
Ann Wilson
Writer · Vocals
BT
Bernie Taupin
Writer
BS
Bob Seger
Writer
BM
Brian May
Writer
CS
Chris Stein
Writer
C
Cirkut
Writer
CW
Cliff Wade
Writer
CB
Clint Ballard Jr.
Writer
DY
David Yungin Kim
Writer
More from Dolly Parton
1967
83%
Hello, I'm Dolly
Monument
12 tracksProd. Fred Foster
1969
50%
In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)
RCA Victor
12 tracksProd. Bob Ferguson
1971
30%
Golden Streets of Glory
10 tracks
1971
70%
Coat of Many Colors
RCA Victor
10 tracksProd. Bob Ferguson
1972
100%
Touch Your Woman
10 tracks
1973
100%
My Tennessee Mountain Home
10 tracks
1973
60%
Bubbling Over
RCA Victor
10 tracksProd. Bob Ferguson
1974
80%
Jolene
RCA Victor
10 tracksProd. Bob Ferguson
1974
80%
Love Is Like a Butterfly
RCA Victor
10 tracksProd. Bob Ferguson
1975
80%
The Bargain Store
RCA Victor
10 tracksProd. Bob Ferguson
1975
100%
Dolly
RCA Victor
10 tracksProd. Porter Wagoner
1976
80%
All I Can Do
RCA Victor
10 tracksProd. Porter Wagoner
1977
80%
New Harvest... First Gathering
RCA Victor
10 tracksProd. Dolly Parton
1977
40%
Here You Come Again
RCA Victor
10 tracksProd. Gary Klein
1978
60%
Heartbreaker
10 tracks
1979
40%
Great Balls of Fire
10 tracks
1980
40%
9 to 5 and Odd Jobs
RCA Victor
10 tracksProd. Gregg Perry
1980
0%
Dolly, Dolly, Dolly
10 tracks
1983
60%
Burlap & Satin
10 tracks
1984
0%
The Great Pretender
10 tracks
1985
40%
Real Love
10 tracks
1987
20%
Rainbow
Columbia
10 tracks
1989
40%
White Limozeen
Columbia
10 tracks
1991
73%
Eagle When She Flies
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Steve Buckingham
1993
75%
Slow Dancing with the Moon
12 tracks
1995
100%
Something Special
10 tracks
1996
0%
Treasures
11 tracks
1998
100%
Hungry Again
Decca Nashville
12 tracks
1999
31%
The Grass Is Blue
13 tracks
2001
50%
Little Sparrow
14 tracks
2002
86%
Halos & Horns
Sugar Hill Records
14 tracksProd. Steve Buckingham
2003
39%
For God and Country
18 tracks
2005
0%
Those Were the Days
12 tracks
2008
75%
Backwoods Barbie
Dolly Records
12 tracks
2011
100%
Better Day
Dolly Records
12 tracksProd. Dolly Parton
2014
67%
Blue Smoke
Dolly Records
12 tracksProd. Kent Wells
2016
100%
Pure & Simple
Dolly Records
10 tracksProd. Dolly Parton
2020
60%
A Holly Dolly Christmas
15 tracks
2022
100%
Run, Rose, Run
Butterfly Records
12 tracksProd. Dolly Parton
Frequently Asked Questions Rockstar
Which songs on Dolly Parton's Rockstar did she write herself?
Parton wrote several originals on Rockstar, including "World on Fire," the title track "Rockstar," "My Blue Tears," "Bittersweet," and "I Dreamed About Elvis." She co-wrote "Either Or," "I Want You Back," "Tried to Rock and Roll Me," and "Bygones" with Kent Wells. The remaining tracks are covers credited to their original songwriters.
Is Rockstar an album of original songs or covers?
Rockstar is mostly classic-rock covers, with roughly two-thirds of the thirty tracks being interpretations of songs by other artists. The rest are Parton originals such as "World on Fire" and "Rockstar."
Who sings with Dolly Parton on "Every Breath You Take"?
Sting, who wrote and originally recorded the song with The Police, appears as the featured guest on Dolly Parton's version of "Every Breath You Take."
Which Beatles members appear on Dolly Parton's cover of "Let It Be"?
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr both perform on Parton's cover of "Let It Be," joined by Peter Frampton on guitar and Mick Fleetwood on percussion.
Did "World on Fire" chart for Dolly Parton?
Yes. "World on Fire" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Rock Digital Song Sales chart and peaked at No. 21 on the Hot Rock Songs chart after Parton debuted it at the 2023 ACM Awards.
How did Rockstar perform on the Billboard charts?
Rockstar debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 128,000 album-equivalent units, and topped the Top Album Sales, Top Country Albums, and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts in its first week.
Who produced Dolly Parton's Rockstar album?
Rockstar was produced by Dolly Parton and Kent Wells. It was released on November 17, 2023, through Parton's Butterfly Records in partnership with Big Machine.
Has Rockstar been certified by the RIAA?
Yes. Rockstar was certified Gold by the RIAA on March 12, 2024, for 500,000 album-equivalent units, just under four months after its release.
Sources
Wikipedia: Rockstar (Dolly Parton album)
Genius: Rockstar
Billboard: World on Fire Tops Rock Digital Song Sales Chart
Billboard: Rockstar Number One Country, Rock & Alternative Charts
Big Machine Label Group: Rockstar Earns RIAA Gold Certification
MusicBrainz: Rockstar release group
Cover Art Archive: Rockstar front cover
Cover Art Archive: Rockstar by Dolly Parton