Dolly Parton leads an incredible supergroup of ‘80s musical icons for ‘80 For Brady’ soundtrack

There is a real sense of ‘80s nostalgia when it comes to the upcoming movie ‘80 For Brady’ set for release in cinemas on March 24, 2023. With a cast composed of Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Rita Moreno, the lead single from the soundtrack has brought together an incredible selection of ‘80s pop icons - including Dolly Parton, who recently celebrated her 77th birthday this month.

‘Gonna Be You,’ brings together a pantheon of female musicians who made their name during the golden age of '80s pop music. Parton is joined by Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry, with the single steeped in synth stabs from the last days of disco and sweeping guitar parts more akin to current musical trends.

If the intention was to create a modern sounding single featuring the icons of the ‘80s, while also sharing nods to the production values of that era of music, they’ve managed to do so. The single is currently streaming on YouTube ahead of the movie’s release - do you think the production has caught the zeitgeist of the singer’s respective heydays?

The single marks the first new work from former Go Go’s member Belinda Carlisle, who last released a single in 2021 (a cover of Get Together by The Youngbloods), while Cyndi Lauper’s involvement comes after her last release in 2019, Hope, for her Japanese Single Collection – Greatest Hits release. Debbie Harry continues to tour with Blondie, with a series of dates throughout 2023 to come, including a performance at the 2023 Isle of Wight Festival in June.

Gloria Estefan would be the only musician aside from Dolly Parton to release music more recently, with the 2022 album Estefan Family Christmas released in October 2022, featuring two generations of Estefan’s - Gloria’s daughter, Emily, and grandson Sasha Estefan-Coppola.

Rock ‘n’ Doll - Dolly Parton’s forthcoming rock album

‘Gonna Be You’ won’t be the only new music to come from Dolly Parton, revealing earlier this week on US talk show The View that she is set to release a rock album later in the year. A hall of famer in both the Country and Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, Parton at one stage tried to turn down her election to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, citing that she’s not really a “rock musician” and didn’t want to take the honour from someone more deserving in the genre.

“I just didn’t feel like I had earned it but they explained to me why I was in it and all that so I said, ‘Well, if you insist on giving it to me, I’ll take it,’” she told the hosts of The View. “But if I’m gonna be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I’m gonna have to do something to earn it.”

If the line-up Parton is involved with regarding ‘Gonna Be You’ wasn’t enough to demonstrate the overwhelming love the country singer has created throughout her career in other facets of the music industry, the who’s who for her rock album should solidify her resounding popularity.

During the same interview with The View, Parton mentioned that she has already recruited Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks, Aerosmith’s Steve Perry and Steven Tyler and John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Parton also revealed that another icon of ‘80s pop, Cher, will be guesting on the album but confirmation what track she’ll guest on has yet to be revealed.

Parton joked that she’s tried to collar Mick Jagger to collaborate on a cover of ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’, but admitted “I’m doing my best to try to get him on, but I did his song anyway,” before mentioning that Pink and Americana musician Bradi Carlile have guested on the track.

But this isn’t Parton’s first foray in the world of rock ‘n’ roll; Parton included a cover of Led Zeppelin classic ‘Stairway to Heaven’ on her 2002 album, Halos and Horns, which only highlighted the singer’s fantastic knack of pivoting between genres. It helps that the song also had just enough of a unique take on it to make it Parton’s own.

On New Year’s Eve, Parton also demonstrated her rock appeal when she joined her goddaughter Miley Cyrus for a televised special, singing Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock & Roll,” “Jolene,” Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball,” and the classic “I Will Always Love You.”