DollyParton’s Southern Accents: A Country Spin on a Tom Petty Classic

Dolly has had a big year with Rockstar, performing on Thanksgiving day at the Cowboy’s game, guesting on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and now a lead single from the upcoming Tom Petty tribute record Petty Country. It’s hard to believe that Tom Petty passed away in 2017 and this upcoming tribute record sounds amazing. Petty has played with and inspired countless artists and Dolly Parton is one of them. Now, she has the opportunity to pay respects to an artist she admired with her version of Southern Accents.

For those who know the original recording, the country arrangement is fuller with far more instrumentation. The original’s mainly stripped back piano inspired arrangement makes way for a traditional country vibe full of acoustic guitar, classic electric slide and some well placed strings. These added musical touches do not over complicate the track, but work really well. This track, like most Petty tracks, lends itself well to a traditional bluesy country arrangement. Moreover, I appreciate that they went traditional country and not overcook the track with too much electric or pop country vibes. Dolly’s vocal has always worked best within traditional country, so it is great to have a traditional country sound structure.

Vocally this is right in Dolly’s wheelhouse and she knocks it out of the park. Her emotional vocal can move from a soul crushing whisper to a powerful epic boom in a matter of seconds. Her range is on full display and the emotional depth she reaches in this track is beyond the original and beyond most of her work on Rockstar. Her deeply emotional and honest vocal reminds me a lot of her track Travelin’ Thru, which also has a traditional arrangement with soulful lows and epic vocal highs. Once again, Dolly pulls off an epic bridge to follow the best bridge in music, which is on her 2023 track World on Fire. After a low part in the 2010s, Dolly’s vocal has come roaring back and she is putting out bangers.

Dolly’s rendition of Southern Accents has an emotional power that is a fitting compliment to Petty’s expert storytelling. This track is an example of a perfect cover in how it keeps the much loved core and heart of the original, while adding a touch of Dolly’s country to the mix. If the rest of the record takes this much care and love for Petty’s songs, we are in store for a top 5 tribute record.

Listen to Southern Accents