Dolly Parton photo courtesy of Dolly Records.

Dolly Parton is one of the most sought after artists in the business when it comes to collaborations, but just because you’re talented, doesn’t mean she’ll work with you. Rocker Jack White — who’s produced records on Loretta Lynn and Wanda Jackson – has made no secret of his desire to work with the country icon, but Dolly tells The Q she’s not so sure a duet is in their future.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Jack White wanting to work with me and I’ve always admired him and of course he lives in Nashville too,” she said. “But I’m so picky about my music. I would never say never because he’s so talented and I loved the way [White's former band] The White Stripes did “Jolene,” it’s just that my music is so personal to me and I’m not going to work with someone just to have a hit.”

Dolly is also someone other artists turn to when looking for cover tracks. Whitney Houston’s take on “I Will Always Love You” turned into a monster hit, though Dolly wouldn’t quite call it her favorite cover (even though it is rather high on her list).

“A lot of people have recorded my songs and I’ve loved everything that everyone has ever done with them,” she said to The Q. “I can’t really pick a favourite as they’re like my children and I’m so proud of them all. Of course, Whitney made me the most money. I was blown away by her version, the way she took that simple song of mine and it became her song…  I just think it’s wonderful that people can take a song and do it in so many different ways.”

Who would you love to hear Dolly do a collaboration with – country or otherwise?

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Hank Williams photo courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will present a special program honoring Hank Williams on April 16. Titled “I Saw the Light: Songwriters Salute Hank,” the program will feature Rodney Crowell, Ashley Monroe, The Secret Sisters and Steve Young. I Saw the Light, which is presented in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy, Presented by SunTrust, will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Museum’s Ford Theater; it is included with Museum admission and is free to Museum members.

During the program, which will be hosted by Family Tradition co-curator Michael McCall, each artist will perform one or more of Hank’s classic songs, as well as some of their own compositions that were influenced or inspired by Williams. They will also discuss how Hank influenced their work.

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell is one of country music’s most respected artists. Over the past four decades, the Texas native has sold millions of records and charted handfuls of No. 1 hits, including five consecutive chart-toppers from his landmark 1988 CD, Diamonds & Dirt (“It’s Such a Small World,” “She’s Crazy for Leavin’,” “I Couldn’t Leave You if I Tried,” “Above and Beyond” and “After All This Time”). His songs have also been recorded by numerous artists including Rosanne Cash, Tim McGraw, Bob Seger and Keith Urban. Crowell’s memoir, Chinaberry Sidewalks, was published earlier this year.

Singer-songwriter Ashley Monroe has been performing since childhood. The East Tennessee native moved to Nashville as a teen and landed a recording contract with Columbia Records, for which she recorded the Top 40 country hit “I Don’t Want To” with Ronnie Dunn. Although never released, her debut Columbia CD contained a Williams-inspired composition, “Hank’s Cadillac.” Ashley’s songs have been recorded by Jason Aldean, Guy Clark, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, among others, and she has performed on records by Jack White’s band the Raconteurs and on Wanda Jackson’s latest CD (produced by White), The Party Ain’t Over.

The Secret Sisters – siblings Laura and Lydia Rogers – were reared on a canon of classic American recordings. Born and raised in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the duo has been harmonizing since childhood. When Laura performed at an impromptu audition in Nashville in 2009, music industry executives took notice; when she mentioned her sister Lydia sang as well, the executives wanted to hear the two of them together. The duo signed with Universal Republic/Beladroit Records a few months later. Their critically acclaimed eponymous debut CD, produced by T Bone Burnett and Dave Cobb and released in October 2010, contains both original and cover songs, including the Hank Williams tunes “House of Gold” and “Why Don’t You Love Me.”

Steve Young was born in Georgia but moved around the South frequently as a child while his family searched for work. By the time he finished high school, Young had become an accomplished singer-songwriter whose songs incorporated the folk, blues, country and gospel influences that he absorbed from the region. A vital force behind the “outlaw” movement in country music, Young is known both for his own recordings, and for penning songs recorded by Waylon Jennings (“Lonesome, On’ry and Mean”) and Hank Williams Jr. (“Montgomery in the Rain”). His most well-known composition, “Seven Bridges Road,” has been recorded by Joan Baez, Rita Coolidge, The Eagles and Dolly Parton, among others.

Museum programs are made possible, in part, by grants from the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and by an agreement between the Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Additional promotional support is being provided by the Museum’s official Family Tradition media partners: Great American Country Television Network, Cumulus Broadcasting and The Tennessean.

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Loretta Lynn photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Loretta Lynn was not the Lynn that earned acclaim for recording “Rose Garden” — that would be Lynn Anderson.

But Loretta can grow her very own, self-named rose garden now, thanks to the creation of the Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose. The apricot-colored hybrid was created by Brad Jalbert of Select Roses in British Columbia. He named it after Loretta’s Grammy-winning album Van Lear Rose after being approached by Sony Music Nashville, which then presented the flower to her. Loretta will receive a shipment of the strain at her home in Tennessee this spring, and it will go into wider distribution next fall.

“Roses have always been so special to me — I’ve loved them since I was a girl,” Loretta says. “So to have a rose named after one of my albums — well, I’m not sure I quite have the words for that! I’m just very, very honored. I can’t wait to have those Van Lear roses blooming in my yard!”

The new flower comes at a time when Loretta’s been overwhelmed with recognition. She was living in Washington State, just south of British Columbia, when she released her first single in 1960. This year is the 50th anniversary of that event, and she’s been honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, an anniversary party at her home, a Recording Academy tribute concert at the Ryman Auditorium and a new album featuring remakes of her classics, Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn.

The album came out Nov. 9, and Loretta sang the title track on the Country Music Association Awards the next night with Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow, who also sing with her on the project.

“I bet Sheryl said to herself, ‘Am I gonna be able to sing this country?’” Loretta laughs. “But Sheryl sings folk stuff, and I thought she done a great job. And Miranda, you know… how she’s got her little curly-cues? I thought she done great. I just loved it. The whole doggone album is great. The only [one] I didn’t like was me on it. But, well, to get the album, you’ll have to take me, too, I guess.”

Others featured on Coal Miner’s Daughter include Gretchen Wilson, Carrie Underwood, the Time Jumpers, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill and Lee Ann Womack. Plus the White Stripes, headed by Jack White, who produced Van Lear Rose, the album now associated with a flower.

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Loretta Lynn photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

In the 1960s and early ‘70s, when Loretta Lynn was at her commercial peak, country hits were notably short musical affairs.

“Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)” ran a quaint two minutes and nine seconds. “Fist City” came in at 2:13. “You’re Lookin’ At Country” was a scant 2:20.

So it was apropos that when the Recording Academy honored the Coal Miner’s Daughter Tuesday, it took just 45 minutes — short and sweet and pretty neat. Host Reba McEntire started the night off with a zippy western-swing version of “If You’re Not Gone Too Long,” bolstered by the Time Jumpers’ triple-fiddle section, pass-around solos and a walking stand-up bass.

From there, a parade of stars trotted out their takes on a mix of classic songs and overlooked material. Kid Rock turned “I Know How” into a gritty piece of country-soul, Martina McBride delivered a forceful interpretation of the gorgeous ballad “Love Is The Foundation,” and Lee Ann Womack added a biting tone to Loretta’s first hit, “I’m A Honky Tonk Girl.”

That song was released 50 years ago, starting off a career that’s one of the most important in country music history. She was the first woman to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award, an undisputed addition to the Country Music Hall of Fame and “a strong, independent female voice,” as Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow noted.

The Academy presented her its Merit Award and also honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award she was unable to pick up at a previous ceremony this year.

“Nobody tells it like it is like Loretta Lynn,” offered rocker Jack White, who produced her Grammy-winning album Van Lear Rose. “I think she’s the greatest female singer-songwriter of the 20th century. You can’t talk me out of it.”

The event was held at the Ryman Auditorium, the same stage where Loretta made her Grand Ole Opry debut 50 years ago. Friday is the exact anniversary of that night.

On Nov. 9, she’ll be recognized again with an entire album of covers, Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn. Loretta, Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow offer up a new version of the title track on the CD, which also includes appearances by Alan Jackson, Allison Moorer, Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Gretchen Wilson and Kid Rock joined voices to honor Loretta’s intentionally squirrelly Conway Twitty duet “You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly,” and Loretta took part in the evening’s final song, “After The Fire Is Gone,” in which Garth Brooks took Conway’s part. Loretta was firm and passionate, and Garth stayed off mic during the harmony parts on the chorus, appropriately allowing Loretta to dominate the sound on her big night.

“I really didn’t know that this night’s for me, but I sure am proud,” Loretta said. “I don’t know what to say except thank you.”

Short and sweet and pretty much perfect.

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Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley.

Jaw-dropping.

There’s probably not a better phrase to describe an all-star band that’s being put together by producer T Bone Burnett. Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, who sung the Grammy-winning “O Death” on T Bone’s O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, will share the stage with keyboard players Elton John and Leon Russell, eclectic rocker Elvis Costello, Americana artist Neko Case and actor Jeff Bridges under the banner T Bone Burnett’s Speaking Clock Revue. They’ll be assembled Oct. 24 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Calif., during the second day of Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Benefit.

The rock-and-country mix in T Bone’s ensemble is reflective of the multi-genre texture of the event’s larger lineup. Country-rock pioneers Buffalo Springfield will reunite for the weekend, and country’s Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson will play the same stage as Americana’s Lucinda Williams, classic-rockers Jackson Browne and Billy Idol, and modern-rock bands Pearl Jam and Modest Mouse.

The link between country artists and their pop and rock peers is strong these days. And it’s in full force in a lot of ways. Among other notable examples:

• Maroon 5’s next album, Hands All Over, comes out Sept. 21, and it includes a collaboration with Lady Antebellum.

• Robert Plant’s next album, Band Of Joy, is released today. At one point, it appeared he’d be doing another project with Alison Krauss, but that was abandoned. Instead, the album now includes appearances by several other Nashville-associated musicians: guitarists Buddy Miller and Darrell Scott, vocalist Patty Griffin and bass player Byron House.

• The track list to Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn has finally been unveiled, with four pop and rock artists covering the Country Hall of Famer’s classics. Pop star Sheryl Crow joins Loretta and Miranda Lambert on “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” the band Paramore does “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man),” Kid Rock covers “I Know How” and the White Stripes — led by Jack White, the producer of Loretta’s Van Lear Rose — remake “Rated X.” The album will be released Nov. 9.

• Martina McBride joined voices with R&B greats Stevie Wonder and Aaron Neville on “Unchained Melody” during last week’s network special “Stand Up To Cancer.” They were part of an ensemble that also featured Natasha Bedingfield, Leona Lewis, U2 guitarist The Edge and former Eurythmics member Dave Stewart.

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Emmylou Harris photo by Rocky Schenck, courtesy of Nonesuch Records.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmylou Harris and superstar Faith Hill both paid a visit to the White House on Wednesday, performing in front of President Barack Obama as Paul McCartney was honored with the Library of Congress’ third annual Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Faith sang “The Long And Winding Road,” according to the Associated Press, while Emmylou turned in a version of “For No One,” a song that originally appeared on the Beatles’ Revolver album in 1966. Emmy recorded it for her 1975 release Pieces Of The Sky, her first album to appear on the country chart.

The song is “so incredibly sad,” she told The New York Times. Emmylou, noted for her exquisite taste in songs, was particularly complimentary of Sir Paul, noting that he “writes lyrics that can stand on their own, but they certainly soar when paired with the melody.”

Paul followed Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder in winning the Gershwin Prize, named for George and Ira Gershwin, two of the most important American songwriting figures of the 20th century. Stevie hailed Paul with a version of “We Can Work It Out” as a parade of stars rolled out in homage. The evening included appearances by Elvis Costello, Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, the Jonas Brothers, Herbie Hancock, Corinne Bailey Rae, classical pianist Lang Lang, comedian Jerry Seinfeld and White Stripes guitarist Jack White. Jack is known to many country fans as the producer of Loretta Lynn’s Grammy-winning album Van Lear Rose.

Paul aimed a performance of the Beatles’ “Michelle” to First Lady Michelle Obama and also sang “Got To Get You Into My Life,” “Hey Jude” and “Let It Be.” The latter song was the title track of the album the Beatles released just as they broke up 40 years ago. “The Long And Winding Road,” the song Faith performed, also appeared on that project.

Approximately 200 people crammed into the East Room of the president’s home for the tribute, which will air July 28 as a PBS special, “In Performance At The White House.” The East Room is the same location where Brad Paisley sang “Welcome To The Future” to Barack Obama, whose election inspired Brad to write it. Brad’s appearance was captured a year ago alongside performances by Charley Pride and Alison Krauss + Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas in the GAC special Country At The White House.

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Faith Hill photo by Andrew Southam, courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

Intentionally or not, a number of country’s bedrock performers — including Faith Hill, Diamond Rio, Trace Adkins and Tracy Lawrence — have all found themselves linked to politics or politicians this week.

For two artists, those connections involve actual campaigning for gubernatorial candidates. The others are tied to honoring people’s lives or accomplishments: Faith and Emmylou Harris will be performing at the White House; Trace and Diamond Rio paid their respects to 11 workers whose deaths are part of the tragic oil spill that has become a political nightmare.

The stories:

• Diamond Rio visited the Jackson Convention Complex in Mississippi Tuesday to perform three songs during the memorial for the workers who were lost in the April 20 oil-rig explosion that’s pumped a steady stream of pollution into the Gulf of Mexico. The band sang “One More Day,” “I Believe” and “In God We Still Trust.” Trace, who formerly worked on oil rigs, delivered his condolences via video. “It was hard work and it was dangerous work,” he said, according to USA Today, “but nobody, especially today, expects it to end like this.”

• Tracy, who lives in Tennessee, officially endorsed Republican Bill Johnson for Alabama governor on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. Tracy has a financial interest in Country Crossing, a Dothan-based project that includes electronic gambling, which has become a major issue in the state. Lorrie Morgan, also involved in Country Crossing, appeared Monday in a Birmingham fundraiser for Democratic candidate Ron Sparks.

• Faith and Emmylou perform June 2 in the White House’s East Room, the same location in which Brad Paisley played “Welcome To The Future” for President Barack Obama last July. The occasion this time is a taping for the PBS series “In Performance At The White House,” as Paul McCartney receives the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Others taking part in the special, which airs July 28, include Stevie Wonder, Jerry Seinfeld, Jack White, Elvis Costello, Herbie Hancock, Dave Grohl, Corinne Bailey Rae and the Jonas Brothers.

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Wanda Jackson in the '50s; Wanda and fellow rockabilly artist, Jerry Lee Lewis in 2009. Photo courtesy of myspace.com/wandajacksonmusic.

Wanda Jackson, the rockabilly queen who’s been enjoying a resurgence in attention, is about to follow in the footsteps of Country Music Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn. Wanda’s enlisted Jack White, the Nashville-based White Stripes rocker, to produce her next album.

He is “one of the biggest stars on the planet I guess right now,” Wanda told The Oklahoman.

Jack has found success not only with the Stripes, but also as a member of the Dead Weather and with the Raconteurs, who were Musical Event of the Year nominees at last week’s CMA awards for a collaboration with Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe.

Jack produced Loretta’s 2004 album Van Lear Rose, which led to a pair of Grammy awards: Best Country Album and Best Country Collaboration honoring the track “Portland, Oregon.”

“They had a super album, but he didn’t have her do anything different,” Wanda noted. “She just did her little Loretta Lynn songs. But he told me he’s gonna stretch me some, so we’ll see. We’ll talk later.”

Noted for such late-‘50s and early-‘60s recordings as “Fujiyama Mama,” “In The Middle Of A Heartache” and “Let’s Have A Party,” Wanda’s rockabilly style landed her on both the pop and country charts. She was enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April, and a street was named after her in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown district in September.

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