SHE may have sung about working 9 to 5 but Dolly Parton has now been putting in overtime.
I can reveal the country legend has been secretly creating a massive new album for release this year.
Dolly has pulled out all the stops for what will be her 50th record, called Dolly Parton: Smokey Mountain DNA.
The secret project, I’m told, has been inspired by her heritage and features 30 songs including collaborations with 20 members of her family.
Dolly’s niece, rising singer Jada Star, said: “It is an album that documents her whole life. It has been a huge undertaking which involves the whole family.
“It is an album she has produced with more than 30 tracks with over 20 family members. She sings with us on every track.”
Jada added: “The album covers songs written about her childhood, her mother and father, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, all the way to her nieces and nephews.
“We all get to share interpretations of her songs or write our own songs for it. It has been a huge crazy project.”
Jada, who will follow in Dolly’s footsteps by making her Glasto debut next month, has written one of the first tracks on the album.
She said: “It’s called The Orchard. It is all about our family tree and what we share with the world.”
Sadly though, one person not on the track list is Dolly’s god-daughter Miley Cyrus.
The Sun told last week how Dolly has also been working on a four-part documentary series which will see the music icon trace her roots to the UK.
Jada said: “Our DNA comes from Wales. So there will be lots of footage from over there. The album will run alongside the docu-series. It is going to be a big deal.”
Dolly released her album Rockstar last November and it included a number of covers including Miley’s 2013 hit Wrecking Ball and Queen’s We Will Rock You.
The record, the first since 2016’s Pure & Simple, became Dolly’s fifth UK Top Ten.
I’ve no doubt Smokey Mountain DNA will help Dolly continue her winning streak.
