Dolly Parton Unveils Emotional Tribute To Tom Petty With 'Southern Accents' Cover

Dolly Parton has turned Tom Petty’s Southern Accents into a gorgeous country ballad for the upcoming tribute album, Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration Of Tom Petty.

The newly announced album stars Parton, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Lady A, duets with Wynonna Judd and Lainey Wilson and Willie Nelson and Lukas Nelson, Steve Earle, Thomas Rhett and many more. You can check out the tracklist below.

In Parton’s version of Southern Accents, she transformed his 1985 rock and roll tune with The Heartbreakers into a mournful ballad, with archival footage of the singer littered throughout the emotional music video.

In a statement, Dolly Parton said about covering Southern Accents (via Consequence Of Sound), “I was fortunate enough to get to know Tom over the years. He’s such an iconic artist and important songwriter. I’m so honoured to be a part of this special album and to be able to share my version of one of Tom’s best songs, Southern Accents.”

You can watch Dolly Parton’s music video for Southern Accents below. Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration Of Tom Petty will be released via Big Machine Records on Friday, 21 June. You can pre-order the album here.

The Tom Petty Estate said about the upcoming album, “The Tom Petty Estate is thrilled to officially announce Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty, out June 21 via Big Machine Records.

“The album is a country music tribute to Tom lovingly curated by some of his closest friends and collaborators, including great friend and Grammy Award-winner George Drakoulias and Tom's esteemed colleague Randall Poster. 

“Some of the most lauded voices in country music explore the extensive Petty catalog and put their own personal touches on some of his greatest hits.”

In other Dolly Parton news, the Jolene singer recently celebrated her 78th birthday by releasing a deluxe edition of her latest album, Rockstar.

The additional tracks include a Billy Joel cover (The Entertainer), Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), Pat Benatar’s Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water and Eddie Money’s Two Tickets To Paradise.

Last year, The Music locked in a cover story interview with Dolly Parton surrounding all things Rockstar. You can read that here.

PETTY COUNTRY—TRACKLIST

1. I Should Have Known It by Chris Stapleton

2. Wildflowers by Thomas Rhett

3. Runnin’ Down A Dream by Luke Combs 

4. Southern Accents by Dolly Parton

5. Here Comes My Girl by Justin Moore

6. American Girl by Dierks Bentley

7. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around by Lady A

8. I Forgive It All by Jamey Johnson

9. I Won’t Back Down by Brothers Osborne

10. Refugee by Wynonna Judd & Lainey Wilson

11. Angel Dream No. 2 by Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson

12. Learning To Fly by Eli Young Band

13. Breakdown by Ryan Hurd feat. Carly Pearce

14. Yer So Bad by Steve Earle

15. Ways To Be Wicked by Margo Price feat. Mike Campbell

16. Mary Jane’s Last Dance by Midland

17. Free Fallin’ by The Cadillac Three feat. Breland

18. I Need To Know by Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives

19. Don’t Come Around Here No More by Rhiannon Giddens feat. Silkroad Ensemble and Benmont Tench

20. You Wreck Me (Live) by George Strait