How a Love Note From Dolly Parton Sparked a Dream Collaboration With Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr

While recording her 2023 album Rockstar, Dolly Parton found herself drawn to one of the most iconic songs in the Beatles’ catalog. Rather than simply covering “Let It Be,” Parton decided to reach out directly to Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, sending what she described as a heartfelt “love note” asking for both their blessing and their participation.

“I just sent them a love note through their managers, and I just said what I was doing,” Parton explained. “And I said, ‘I didn’t want to put you on the spot, but I’d love to have you sing with me on my rock album. And if you’re interested, call me at this number.’”

To her surprise and delight, the response was overwhelmingly positive. “All the people I reached out to said, ‘Yes, we’d love to,’” she said. “And I was very honored and very proud and very humbled by that.”

Reuniting With Rock Royalty

Once the song was recorded, Parton reached out to McCartney directly to see if he might also contribute musically. “I had recorded it, and I thought, ‘Wow, I wonder if Paul would even consider playing and singing on it,’” she recalled. “And so I contacted him. He was so gracious.”

Parton noted that she had crossed paths with McCartney several times over the years and said his warmth never wavered. “He’s always so nice, and he said he’d be on it, and I was so honored that he was honored.”

With McCartney on board, Parton felt the track still needed one final touch. “Well, we got to have Ringo, because that’s the last of the Beatles,” she said. When she contacted Starr, his response was immediate. “Same thing: ‘I’d be glad to do it.’”

The finished recording features McCartney on vocals and piano, Starr on drums, Mick Fleetwood on percussion, and Peter Frampton on guitar—an all-star lineup that elevates the song beyond a simple cover. “Does it get any better than singing ‘Let It Be’ with Paul McCartney, who wrote the song?” Parton said. “Well, it did get even better when Ringo Starr joined in on drums, Peter Frampton on guitar, and Mick Fleetwood playing percussion. I mean, seriously, how much better does it get?”

Following the song’s release, McCartney publicly praised the collaboration, writing on social media, “Thanks, Dolly, for doing my song. I love your version and am very pleased to be by your side on this one. Rock on.”

A Lifelong Love Affair With the Beatles

Parton’s connection to the Beatles dates back to the moment she first heard “I Want to Hold Your Hand” in 1964. “The first time I ever remember totally being jarred and feeling all kinds of emotions was when that song came out,” she said. “I couldn’t get enough of it.”

She recalled riding around with friends, listening to the song whenever it came on the radio. “They played it night and day when the Beatles first came on the scene,” she said, adding that the music left a lasting impression on her as both a fan and a future songwriter.

That admiration has surfaced repeatedly throughout her career. While working on her twenty-first album, Great Balls of Fire, Parton recorded a bluegrass version of “Help!” In 2005, she revisited John Lennon’s “Imagine” for her album Those Were the Days, pairing the recording with a music video that featured personal home footage of Lennon and Yoko Ono.

By including “Let It Be” on Rockstar, Parton closes a meaningful circle—moving from teenage fan to peer and collaborator. The track stands not only as a tribute to the Beatles but also as a reflection of Parton’s ability to bridge generations, genres, and legacies. Rather than reimagining the song for shock value, she approaches it with reverence, warmth, and an unmistakable sense of joy.

In the end, Parton’s version of “Let It Be” is less about nostalgia and more about connection—between artists, eras, and the enduring power of songs that continue to resonate long after their first note was played.