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It's official, folks - Dolly Parton has officially entered her Rockstar era.
For anyone still feeling a little puzzled at the country icon's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame last year, Dolly Parton certainly put an end to all the questions as to whether the ‘Jolene’ hitmaker truly is ‘Rock and Roll’ in Frisco, Texas this evening.
To close out the 2023 ACM Awards, Dolly took a step away from her co-hosting duties to deliver a momentous performance of her brand new song, ‘World on Fire’.
The fiery anthem will be included on Dolly Parton's upcoming album, Rockstar, which is also expected to feature high-profile guest appearances from the likes of Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, P!nk, Chris Stapleton, Lizzo, Elton John, Brandi Carlile and Ringo Starr.
Ahead of the live debut of ‘World on Fire’, Dolly promised viewers that - as is tradition whenever the Tennessee megastar graces the stage - her performance would be backed by huge production. It's safe to say she delivered, with Dolly Parton's timeless confidence and charm being accompanied by a ferocious swarm of electric guitars, a sprawling choir and a dazzling array of histrionics.
For the rest of the 2023 ACM Awards ceremony, Dolly Parton traded gags and punchlines with her fellow country music legend, Garth Brooks, with many hoping the two might even take the stage together for a special one-off performance at some point during the evening. Alas, it was not meant to be tonight.
Although sonically intense, ‘World on Fire’ spins around a heartwarming message of hope and optimism, as Dolly Parton commands humanity to look itself in the mirror and start taking better care of the planet (“Liar, liar / The world's on fire / Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down?”).
And it's safe to say that when the Queen of Country speaks, you listen.
For more on the 2023 ACM Awards, see below:
