Remembering Dolly: The Time She Teamed Up with Steve Perry for Rock Album Debut

Dolly Parton announced plans to record her first rock album after her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022. Parton, who built her career as a country artist, said she wanted to justify her recognition by venturing into the rock genre.

"This has inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock and roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do," Parton said.

Soon after, Parton began revealing potential collaborators, including former Journey frontman Steve Perry. Perry confirmed his participation on social media, writing, "If Dolly says it's true, then it must be true. Her voice is amazing."

Parton's 30-track album features covers of songs she admires and includes collaborations with artists such as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Sting, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, Lizzo, Richie Sambora, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Michael McDonald, John Fogerty, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Debbie Harry, and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus.

For her duet with Perry, Parton chose Journey's 1981 hit "Open Arms." "Steve Perry is singing with me on it, and he's the one that had the original on that years ago," Parton said. "It was a big hit."

Perry co-wrote "Open Arms" with keyboardist Jonathan Cain for Journey's seventh album, "Escape." The song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and appeared on the soundtrack for the 1981 film "Heavy Metal." Mariah Carey also found success with her cover of "Open Arms" on her 1995 album "Daydream."

Parton's version adds her signature vocal style, with Perry providing backing vocals. Perry last performed the song live with Journey in 1991 at a tribute concert for promoter Bill Graham in San Francisco.

"I have been a Dolly Parton fan for years and years, and to sing one of my songs with her was truly a thrill," Perry said. "When I first got the track I could not believe how strong and amazing her voice was. I did my very best to keep up with that girl, but boy she's got fire. And to quote her on my telephone, she said, 'I think we harmonize well together, don't you?' And I said, 'Absolutely, my dear. Absolutely.'"

Parton shared that "Open Arms" holds personal meaning. Her late husband, Carl Dean, once suggested she record it as a duet with longtime collaborator Kenny Rogers. Parton and Rogers recorded several duets over the years, including "Islands in the Stream," "Real Love," and "You Can't Make Old Friends."

"My husband always loved it and always thought I should have recorded it with Kenny Rogers, but I never got a chance to do that," Parton said. "So, when I started doing the rock album, I thought, 'Well, I'm going to record 'Open Arms,' and then I'm going to ask Steve Perry to sing it with me.' I wish I had written it."