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LISTEN: Kelly Clarkson Teams Up With Dolly Parton For New Version Of ‘9 to 5’
Dolly Parton and Kelly Clarkson joined forces for a reimagined version of Parton’s iconic hit, “9 to 5.” On Friday…
Kelly Clarkson; Weiss Eubanks, NBCUniversal, Dolly Parton; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Dolly Parton and Kelly Clarkson joined forces for a reimagined version of Parton’s iconic hit, “9 to 5.”
On Friday (Sept. 9), the country icon and chart-topping superstar, who Parton previously dubbed “one of the greatest singers in the world,” shared the highly-anticipated new duet version of “9 to 5,” an award-winning tune that appears on Parton’s 1980 album, 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs.
“Nobody sings like Kelly Clarkson. She makes any song come alive,” Parton shared in a press release. “I love her voice on ‘9 to 5,’ and I am so proud I got to sing with her on it. I’m equally as proud of the wonderful arrangement and production by Shane McAnally.”
“I am so honored that Dolly asked me to reimagine this iconic song, ‘9 to 5,’ with her!” Clarkson added. “She is so talented, an inspiration to all women, and one of the sweetest people you will ever meet!”
Clarkson continued, “I hope y’all like what we did, but even if you don’t, remember I got to sing a duet with the magical Dolly Parton, and now have bragging rights til the end of time!”
Produced by Shane McAnally, the remake of the 1980 classic first premiered last spring in the documentary, Still Working 9 to 5. The film reunited the 9 to 5 cast, Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman, and made its world premiere with multiple screenings at South By Southwest in March of 2022.
The pair completely revamped the tune and gave the song an entirely new sound. Parton and Clarkson’s duet features a more laid-back, slowed-down melody with Clarkson taking on lead vocals as Parton background vocals.
Throughout the tune, Clarkson blends her soothing vocals with Parton’s signature voice and flawlessly harmonizes with the country music icon on the chorus.
“Well, I tumble outta bed and stumble to the kitchen / Pour myself a cup of ambition / Yawn and stretch and try to come to life / Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumping / Out on the street, the traffic starts jumping / With folks like me on the job from 9 to 5,” the pair harmonize on the chorus.
Earlier this year, Parton made a special appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, during which she teased the much-anticipated duet and praised Clarkson’s vocals.
“I love how you took that and just made it your own and I got a chance to sing background for a change!” Parton said at the time. “But I’m really proud of that rendition of it and I think, hopefully, it’ll do well for us. It’s great in the documentary.”
“9 to 5” was penned solely by Parton and was written for the iconic comedy film of the same name. The song and film owe their titles to 9 to 5, an organization founded in 1973 with the aim of bringing about fair pay and equal treatment for women in the workplace.
The track went on to earn Parton an Academy Award nomination, four GRAMMY Award nominations as well as two GRAMMY Award wins for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
This marks the first time Parton and Clarkson have collaborated, although Clarkson made headlines after covering the legendary track in 2019 to promote her Emmy-award winning daytime series, The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Still Working 9 to 5, which will be released to the public on September 16, reflects on 9 to 5 and takes a deep dive into the impact the 1980 film had on the women’s movement of that time and now.
The documentary also featured Rita Moreno from the 9 to 5 TV series, Allison Janney from the Broadway musical, and other stars from the television and stage versions of the classic film. Additionally, activists and individuals closely associated with the women’s movement both now and then also appeared.
Parton recently announced a greatest hits album, dubbed Dolly Parton – Diamonds & Rhinestones: The Greatest Hits Collection, which is set to arrive on November 18. The project will feature 23 tracks, including some of Parton’s most recognizable hits such as her collaborations with Kenny Rogers (“Islands in the Stream” and “Real Love”) and Loretta Lynn/Tammy Wynette (“Silver Threads and Golden Needles”), as well as iconic songs like “9 to 5,” “Jolene” and more.
“Every one of these songs has a special memory behind it for me,” Parton said in a statement. “I hope that you make some special memories of your own while listening to them.”
Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson is gearing up to kick off a new era of music with her forthcoming divorce album. Clarkson’s Emmy-award winning daytime series, The Kelly Clarkson Show, returns to NBC for Season 4, which will premiere on September 12.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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