When you need a film soundtrack, who better to call then GRAMMY-winning country legend Dolly Parton and singer/songwriter/producer extraordinaire Linda Perry?
<iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ixrje2rXLMA" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Parton and Perry collaborated on the soundtrack for the upcoming film Dumplin', co-writing six new songs for the album that feature Parton with a number of other singers. It will also include several freshly recorded versions of previously released Parton hits. Parton executive produced the album, and Perry also wrote and produced the film's score.
Dumplin', which stars Jennifer Aniston and is directed by Anne Fletcher, is based on a best-selling book written by Julie Murphy. The book's protagonist, a plus-size girl, decides to enter a beauty pageant to spite her mother, who is a former pageant queen.
Murphy's book has a strong Parton tie, connecting to the artist throughout, right down to the main character's name: Willowdean, a close reference to Parton's sister Willadeene. So it makes perfect sense Parton herself would be instrumental in the film's soundtrack.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Writing new music just brings me so much joy! Look out for "Dumplin'" on the big screen! <a href="https://t.co/3RsPLn7I37">https://t.co/3RsPLn7I37</a></p>— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) <a href="https://twitter.com/DollyParton/status/983807618509664256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Details about the release of Dumplin' will likely be forthcoming as the film is currently in negotiations for distribution. Parton and Perry are also expected to talk more about the project during the Music’s Leading Ladies Speak Out session at the Nashville, Tenn.-based Music Biz 2018 conference.
Of the film's message, Parton said, "It's really a wonderful and uplifting thing for young girls altogether."
