Warren Haynes pays tribute to Dolly Parton: “I’ve always been a fan”

Warren Haynes reflected on the life and career of Dolly Parton following the country music icon’s death on August 25.

In a soon-to-be-released interview with Blues Rock Review, Haynes discussed his longtime admiration for Parton, whose music connected with him even during his younger years when much of the country music surrounding her did not.

“I’ve always been a fan,” Haynes told Blues Rock Review. “She was kind of the exception to the rule for me back growing up, when I didn’t really love a lot of the artists that she would be compared to. Somehow I always really liked her songs.”

Haynes’ appreciation for Parton dates back to childhood and watching her on television. He specifically recalled several of the songs that made an impression on him early in life.

“I go back to watching her TV show when I was a kid, and she used to close every night with ‘I’ll Always Love You,’” Haynes said. “I always loved ‘Coat of Many Colors’ and ‘Jolene’ and songs like that, that hit me even as a teenager.”

Beyond the music, Haynes said he developed an appreciation for the way Parton handled the challenges of a career that spanned decades. He pointed to her ability to succeed on her own terms in an industry that could be particularly difficult for women.

“But then through the years, just watching her navigate her career, as a strong-willed woman in a sexist environment, you know, the music business can be pretty harsh,” Haynes said. “And she dealt with it in an amazing way and managed to be an amazing artist decade after decade after decade.”

Haynes eventually had the opportunity to work with Parton when she ventured into rock music with her 2023 album, Rockstar. The star-studded project saw Parton collaborating with artists from across the rock world, with Haynes among the musicians who took part.

For Haynes, getting the opportunity to contribute to the project was especially meaningful given how far back his admiration for Parton went.

“And so when she announced she was going to do a rock record, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s really cool,’” Haynes said. “And then when I got the call to be part of it, I was just all smiles, you know, it was a fantastic experience.”

Parton’s career crossed boundaries between country, pop and rock while producing some of the most recognizable songs in American music. For Haynes, however, her legacy went beyond genre. She was an artist whose songwriting reached him at a young age and whose longevity and determination continued to earn his respect throughout his own career.

Blues Rock Review’s full interview with Warren Haynes will be released soon.