Start your day with Dolly

Dolly Parton co-hosted the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards last night with Garth Brooks, which means we get to start our day with a little dose of Dolly. 

It’s a busy time for the iconic singer, as she announced a new album earlier this week, Rockstar, which is due in November. As the name implies, the album will feature many guest artists from the world of rock’n’roll, including Stevie Nicks, Richie Sambora, Steve Perry, Lizzo, P!nk, Sting, Steven Tyler, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, and there is a cover of “Let It Be” that reunites Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney along with Peter Frampton and Mick Fleetwood. There are way more people on the album, this is just a sampling of who turned out for Dolly.

The lead single, “World On Fire”, dropped yesterday. I guess this is what passes for a political anthem in Dollywood.

Does this sound like Bon Jovi to anyone else? Like there’s a little “It’s My Life” in there, no? Also, I’m not sure “can’t we all just get along” works as anthemic rock anymore and saying stuff like “life is hard for everyone” is pointless when life is demonstrably harder for some groups more than others, but it’s Dolly. She brings people together, so of course her take on anthemic rock would be something meant to acknowledge collective struggles and to remind us that we’re not so different, after all. Dolly Parton is literally one of the last cultural forces we can all agree on, so let’s not poke too hard under this particular rock, I’m sure this song will play well on radio stations across the US, for those who still listen to the radio, that is.

Also at the ACMAs last night was Ed Sheeran, who is threatening us with a country album. THIS is the battle Dolly should be fighting, THIS is where we need to take a stand. Dolly save us from Ed Sheeran invading country.