Dolly Parton and the Wiggles: An Unexpected Friendship
Dolly Parton is known—apart from an illustrious and long-standing musical career—for her unexpected and, often, incredibly effective collaborations. She’s shared tracks with the likes of Kenny Rogers, Whitney Houston, for King and Country, Pitbull, and even recently teamed up with pop celebrity Sabrina Carpenter for a version of her hit song ‘Please Please Please’. But in spite of Parton’s varied collaborative past—and her other far-reaching interests which include philanthropy, wine-making, and acting—she still managed to shock the internet by announcing her newest collaboration with Australian children’s band…The Wiggles.
It might not have been on your 2025 bingo card, but it seems that no one is complaining about the surprise team-up between country’s biggest star and the world-famous, primary-color-clad children’s group who have been running for over three decades. When Dolly posted a clip from one of the three songs in which she features on the new album, Wiggle Up, Giddy Up!, she was met with a flood of approval from fans. Sentiments such as “Dolly and the Wiggles let[’]s goooo” and “Dolly never ceases to amaze us” filled the comments section, with many commenters praising the fact that both they and their kids were loving the idea.
But why the Wiggles, and why now?
While Dolly Parton herself hasn’t commented on why she felt a collaboration with the dance-loving group would be perfect for her image as a still-relevant 79 year-old musician, it seems she was highly sought after by the group. Teshay Hawkins, one of two yellow Wiggles, told Broadsheet that they “created a wish list of talent we wanted to work with and Dolly was number one.” So perhaps Dolly simply couldn’t resist the color-coded group’s musical pull. Or maybe she was hoping to stay up to date on her grandkids’ interests like Cate Blanchette did with her role in Thor: Ragnarok?
Or perhaps, in a world that is increasingly defined by divisive politics, economics, and social issues, the country star wanted to send a message. The song Friends! which Dolly posted on her TikTok account includes the lyrics “When times are hard, we can make it fun. And you know that two is always better than one.” Dolly Parton is a celebrity well-known for her philanthropic endeavors, including the Imagination Library, which donates books to children in need, and million-dollar donations to Covid vaccinations. So it seems fitting with the star’s generous nature that she might be keen to spread a message of peace and reconciliation, particularly in her home country.
Whatever her motivations, fans and critics alike seem to share the same sentiment about the country legend’s newest musical friendship. It was a blessing we didn’t know we needed. And perhaps we can all learn a little from those age-appropriate lyrics:
“Be my friend!”
References:
https://www.tiktok.com/@dollyparton/video/7475102782953917726
