Dolly Parton Surprises Fans with New Music on 78th Birthday and Reflects on Royal Encounters

Dolly Parton celebrated her 78th birthday by surprising fans with the release of four never-before-heard songs, along with a deluxe version of her rock-inspired album "Rockstar."

In an Instagram post, she thanked fans and announced the additional tracks, some of which were not included in the original album release.

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The deluxe version, featuring the new songs, was unveiled on her birthday, and she encouraged fans to stream it wherever they get their music.

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The initial "Rockstar" album, released in November the previous year, included 20 iconic covers and nine original songs.

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Parton expressed excitement about presenting her first rock and roll album, highlighting the joy she experienced collaborating with iconic musicians.

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Despite her busy schedule, Parton had to decline an afternoon tea invitation from Kate Middleton due to a heavy workload.

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However, she expressed her admiration for the Princess of Wales and mentioned that she would gladly accept a future invitation, expressing a desire to discuss their shared passion for helping underprivileged children.

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Both Parton and Kate Middleton have been involved in successful initiatives for children, such as Parton's Imagination Library and Kate's programs focusing on early childhood developmental care in the U.K.

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Parton, a fan of the British royal family, previously met Queen Elizabeth during her Silver Jubilee in 1977.

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She recalled being "scared to death" about the curtsy but found the Queen to be warm, sweet, and giving during their encounter backstage at the Royal Variety Show in Glasgow, Scotland.

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