In 2002, Dolly Parton enhanced the bluegrass enchantment of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” during a live performance, and this has…

This rock classic has a lengthy history with the country icon.

In 2002, Dolly Parton infused “Stairway to Heaven” with a bluegrass flavour.

Led Zeppelin were never averse to a touch of inflection; bassist John Paul Jones occasionally transitioned to mandolin, and the band’s third album is replete with folky moments. However, of all the songs that beg for the country-music treatment, the protracted progressive rock epic “Stairway to Heaven” from 1971 wouldn’t be the most obvious candidate. However, the legendary Dolly Parton has earned the right to take daring risks, and when she covered the song in 2002, she was able to make the on-paper culture clash feel completely natural.

The song was first performed live by Dolly Parton during her Halos & Horns Tour, which was documented in two performances for her 2004 concert film and album, Live and Well, according to Setlist.fm. Additionally, it is an extraordinary interpretation. The singer maintains the fundamental structure in a nearly identical manner, but the instrumentation includes a bluegrass feel: acoustic guitar, violin, banjo, mandolin, upright bass, and brushed percussion.

Parton’s expressive, melismatic vocals serve as the foundation for the piece’s dynamic progression over a seven-minute duration, culminating in a dramatic double-time crescendo. She even incorporates a gospel feel by incorporating new lyrics towards the conclusion, singing, “Oh, the great almighty dollar / Leaves you lonely, lost, and hollow / You can’t fool yourself forever / You got to work to get to heaven.”

Parton recorded a similar studio version for the Halos & Horns album and then again for her rock-centric 2023 LP, Rockstar. This was not a one-off event. (She also reinterpreted songs by The Police, Heart, Journey, Elton John, and Queen, among others, with a high level of ambition for that endeavour.) It is evident that “Stairway to Heaven” holds a special place in Parton’s heart, as her late spouse, Carl Dean, was an avid Led Zeppelin enthusiast. In fact, the singer expressed that he was “concerned” about her performing this canonical anthem to Classic Rock in 2023. She recalled that he stated, “I am uncertain as to whether you should engage in that activity, as I believe you will receive a significant amount of criticism.” “People are opposed to other individuals tampering with that song.” Nevertheless, I carried out the task. At first, he cracked a jest about it: “I believe that was more akin to ‘Stairwell To Hell’ than ‘Stairway To Heaven!'”

– YouTube

It is evident that Parton is a rock enthusiast herself; one does not produce an album such as Rockstar without possessing the necessary skills to inhabit that realm. However, the inception of that endeavour was partially motivated by the desire to demonstrate her credentials following her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. “I must admit, I am extremely grateful and honoured. However, I am also the type of individual who believes that in order to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I must earn it by any means necessary,” she stated to Pollstar with a chuckle. “That is my perspective on the matter.” It is impossible for me to refrain from releasing an album, as it will serve as evidence that I am capable and capable.

The songwriter also discussed her revised studio rendition of “Stairway to Heaven,” contrasting the bluegrass-style original with a later arrangement that was “more true to the regular record.” (In spite of this, she was unable to resist incorporating an additional captivating element into the track by enlisting Lizzo’s jazz-flute appearance.) She even aspired to reunite Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant for the session, but her ambitious plan was unsuccessful. However, she demonstrated that she possessed an abundance of star power to independently propel this classic, as evidenced by both of her dazzling renditions.