Dolly Parton Covers 'What's Up' With 4 Non-Blondes' Linda Perry

Dolly Parton has just released the latest single from her upcoming album, Rockstar, following her cover of The Beatles’ Let It Be with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Queen’s We Are The Champions, World On Fire, which she performed for the first time at the 58th ACM Awards, Bygones starring Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford and Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx and guitarist John 5, and a cover of Heart’s Magic Man, featuring guest vocalist Ann Wilson of Heart fame.

The newest track is a reflective, heartfelt take on a 90s karaoke classic: 4 Non-Blondes’ What’s Up? Yep, the ARIA #2 single and Sense8 song; that’s the one. Parton takes the lead on her cover, which includes 4 Non-Blondes singer Linda Perry harmonising in the chorus and providing some wails towards the end of the track.

You can listen to Dolly Parton’s version of What’s Up? below.

The music video premiered on CMT and will air on YouTube at 10 am ET (midnight Sunday AEST). You can save the link here.

“First of all, I love Linda Perry. Second of all, I love this song written by Linda. Third of all, I love being a part of this video to try to make people think about what’s going on in this world today,” Parton commented about the collaboration with Perry in a statement. “Shout out to the little children that helped with the video! If our children don’t make it, then what will? Again, I ask, ‘What’s Up?’ Enjoy.”

Perry added, “How is one supposed to react when the greatest and most prolific songwriter in the world wants to cover a song YOU wrote? Her version of What’s Up? is so good. Her spin on it made me feel like it was her song. No surprise there. 

“Being on set making the video was a comfortable, easy experience. The vibe on set was chill, and Dolly and I got to catch up and laugh a lot. I could go on and on. Obviously, I’m a fan!”

Steve Summers directed the music video, which was filmed at the Eakin Elementary School in downtown Nashville earlier this year.

Dolly Parton’s new album, Rockstar, arrives after her induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, an honour she didn’t feel she deserved at the time but is now rectifying with a stacked rock and roll album.

Rockstar will be released on Friday, 17 November, via the singer’s independent Butterfly Records.

Check out the full tracklist here and pre-order the album here.