Dolly Parton surprises fans with new songs on her 78th birthday

Country music icon Dolly Parton celebrated her 78th birthday on Friday by releasing four never-before-heard songs as part of a deluxe edition of her rock-inspired album Rockstar. 

The album, which was originally released in November 2023, features 20 covers of classic rock songs and nine original tracks by Parton.

In an Instagram post, Parton announced her birthday gift to her fans and friends, saying, “I’m releasing four never-released songs for my birthday, to go with the Rockstar album, and a few others that you may have heard before that were not on the album. I hope you enjoy them, and I hope you all have a happy birthday for me! LOL.”

The new songs include “Rockin’ It (Live)”, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, “Mama Never Said”, and “Two Tickets To Paradise”. The deluxe edition also features a collaboration with Italian rock band Måneskin on a remake of Parton’s signature song “Jolene”, as well as renditions of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “The Entertainer”, and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)”.

Parton, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, said in a press release last year that she was honored and privileged to work with some of the greatest singers and musicians of all time and to sing the iconic songs on the album. She added that she hoped everybody enjoyed the album as much as she enjoyed putting it together.

Parton’s fans expressed their gratitude and admiration for the singer in the comments section of her post, wishing her a happy birthday and praising her for making the world a better place with her music and generosity. Parton is known for her philanthropic efforts, such as donating millions of dollars to various causes, including COVID-19 research, literacy programs, and wildfire relief.