Nikki Sixx “played his butt off” on Dolly Parton’s upcoming rock album

Nikki Sixx (Franklin Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr.) in concert with the Sixx:A.M.

(Image credit: Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images & Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

Dolly Parton may be better known for country hits like 9 to 5 or Jolene, but following her 2022 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the country star confirmed that her next record will be a rock album in order to "earn her keep” in the Rock Hall. “I always thought I might want to do a rock record, because my husband is a rock and roll freak,” said Parton. “So I thought, 'Well, if I'm ever gonna do it, now's the time.’ I have to live up to all of that hype!”

A lineup of rock stars will reportedly appear on the album, with Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx having recently revealed that he played bass guitar on one of the songs. Parton said in a letter to Sixx's wife Courtney, that Sixx had "played his butt off" on her upcoming album, which is tentatively titled, Rock Star.

"Hey Courtney," Parton wrote in the letter, which Courtney later shared on social media. "Your hubby played his butt off on my album! Maybe someday I can meet you both. Love, Dolly.” Sixx also shared the news in his own tweet. “Played bass on a song for Dolly Parton yesterday. What a class act Dolly is.”

Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5 also shared news of his participation in a tweet. "I'm so honored that I got the opportunity to play guitar on one of the songs on the upcoming @DollyParton album. I've been listening to Dolly ever since I can remember. Words cannot describe how exciting this is."

Other rumoured guests include P!nk and Brandi Carlile who will reportedly feature on a cover of The Rolling Stones (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, while the likes of Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Cher and Stevie Nicks have also been name-checked in recent interviews.

Speaking with USA Today, Parton said she had been keen to recruit Mick Jagger: “I wanted a song for just me and Mick – ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ – but Brandi and P!nk are now singing on it. I’m still waiting for Mick to come on back. He might come through. If not, I’ll kick his bony ass when I see him!”

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49

Nick Wells was the Editor of Bass Guitar magazine from 2009 to 2011, before making strides into the world of Artist Relations with Sheldon Dingwall and Dingwall Guitars. He's also the producer of bass-centric documentaries, Walking the Changes and Beneath the Bassline, as well as Production Manager and Artist Liaison for ScottsBassLessons. In his free time, you'll find him jumping around his bedroom to Kool & The Gang while hammering the life out of his P-Bass.

Latest

“The pick that makes guitar easier”: Introducing the PickTwist – a new 3D pick that will make you a better player… and never slip out your hand

See more latest ►

“I played a 5-string with Lauryn Hill, but it didn’t feel like a real bass”: Raised on R&B, schooled by fusion, and empowered by punk rock, Bad Brains bassist Darryl Jenifer remains a 4-string purist

“Zoom discontinued that pedal because nobody bought it – but bass players are always coming up to me wanting to know how I got those sounds”: Remembering jazz great Victor Bailey, who used an unsung multi-FX pedal for his cover of Prince’s biggest hit

Proggy Pentatonic! How to Use the Good Ol’ Pentatonic Scale in Cool New Ways

“I had a hard time playing in tune. The producer stopped me and said, ‘George, tune up again.’ I didn’t realize the value of that until Breezin’ came out”: How George Benson landed a hit album by breaking the rules – and learning to play in tune

“Even though a Marshall sounded fantastic, I refused to play one. That’s my bad… I had a terrible sound for years”: Punk-grunge icon Donita Sparks on ironic gear choices, L7’s infamous Reading Festival set and why recording with Butch Vig was “maddening”

“I bought my ’54 Strat from the biggest dealer in Sweden – he was crying when I walked away with the guitar”: Brian May, Steve Vai and Neal Schon have all given Yngwie Malmsteen guitars – but nothing compares to his Fender Strats

“If there was ever a time to get off the rollercoaster, it was going to be at the top”: Being in a band is tough – just ask bassist Dirk Lance, who left Incubus at the peak of their powers

“Trying to emulate these different players was a challenge. Chris Poland to Marty Friedman is like night and day. But that’s what excites me”: Glen Drover grew up idolizing Megadeth and King Diamond’s guitar heroes – then he had to step into their shoes

“Many players think that the pickups are the main contributor to the way a guitar sounds… But if you change what the string does, that changes the guitar”: How Andy Powers rethought electric guitar design for the Powers Electric A-Type

“We made a handwritten tab book. I wanted to make some sort of DIY zine, and I had all these guitar solos from the EP that people were asking about”: Musical polymath Luna Li on blending harps with Fender Jaguars – and the art of arrangement

“I remember watching Jimi when I was younger, while he was in the room with me. I’d have my social studies book, but I was listening and watching him”: Ernie Isley lived with Jimi Hendrix – then took his place to write hit after hit in his brothers’ band

Get The Pick Newsletter

Most Popular