Can Dolly Parton Reunite Robert Plant & Jimmy Page?

Many musicians and music industry veterans have tried and failed to reunite former bandmates Robert Plant and Jimmy Page since Led Zeppelin‘s 2007 performance at an Ahmet Ertegün Tribute Concert. Perhaps Dolly Parton will have better luck, as the upcoming Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee would like the pair to contribute to a new version of “Stairway To Heaven” she has planned.

Parton revealed the news she’s aiming to enlist Plant and Page for a version of “Stairway To Heaven” that is “more true to the regular record” than the bluegrass-style take featured on 2002’s Halos & Horns in an interview with Pollstar. The 76-year-old musician still plans to make a rock album she hinted at in a note trying to decline her Rock Hall nomination.

“I’m going to redo that really on the money. I did it kind of bluegrass-style when I did it; but when I do the rock album, I’m going to actually re-record it – and do it more true to the regular record,” Parton said. “I’m trying to see if Robert Plant might sing on it. Maybe Jimmy Page might do the pick-up part on it.”

Plant and Page aren’t the only luminaries Parton will reach out to participate in the recording of her first rock record. “I’m looking forward to dragging in some of the great classic people, girls and boys, to sing on some of the songs,” Dolly added. “I’m not far enough along to discuss who and what, but I am going to do an album.”

Dolly Parton shared a status update on the project earlier in the interview. When asked whether she’s working on a rock ‘n’ roll record, she responded as such:

Well, I am. When I got nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I thought “Well, no better time to do it.” I had always wanted to do it. My husband is a big hard rock ’n’ roll fan, and for years I thought, “One of these days I’d like to do an album mainly just for him, just to kind of do it.” When I got nominated, I thought, “Why not just go ahead and do it while the iron’s hot? Maybe have some of the greats, the legends of rock ‘n’ roll sing along with me.

I’m gathering all that stuff and notifying a few people. When I get leveled out from finishing the movie [“Run, Rose, Run”], hopefully I’m going to have a real good album. I’m looking forward to it.

Parton will be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame during a ceremony to be held at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater on November 5. While Dolly initially tried to take herself out of consideration for the honor, she has now embraced the accolade. “I even wrote a song about the whole situation to sing at the ceremony,” Parton revealed. “A fine, cute little rock ‘n’ roll song that’ll probably go on the rock ‘n’ roll album. It’s called “Rockin’’: ‘You know I’ve been rockin’ since the day I was born…’ You know, listening to Elvis and Journey and Chuck Berry, all those great people. It’s a fine little song, and it’s real rock-y, so I’ll have something fun to play off of, to ease some of the tension.”

The Tennessee native also discussed her “cheeky” song “Dumb Blonde,” her feminist roles in movies, setting a positive example for fellow humans, the possibility of a future tour and more with Pollstar. Follow this link to read the full feature.

[Hat Tip – Ultimate Classic Rock]