About The Song
Voices of Power and Purpose: Dolly Parton – “What’s Up?” ft. Linda Perry
When Dolly Parton and Linda Perry joined forces for a bold reimagining of “What’s Up?”, the result was more than a duet—it was a generational cry for understanding, change, and emotional honesty. Originally released in 1993 by Perry’s band 4 Non Blondes, the song quickly became an anthem of existential frustration and social awareness. Thirty years later, Dolly’s rendition—featuring Perry herself—transforms it into a cross-generational statement of solidarity, performed by two women whose voices have long cut through the noise with truth and passion.
Released in 2023 as part of Dolly’s ambitious Rockstar album—a genre-bending project that saw her embracing rock ’n’ roll while remaining rooted in her country soul—“What’s Up?” stands out as one of its most emotionally resonant tracks. In this version, Dolly doesn’t just cover a classic—she inhabits it, pouring her lifetime of wisdom and heartache into every lyric.
From the opening chords, the arrangement remains faithful to the original—acoustic guitar, atmospheric tension, and a slow build of intensity—but with a cleaner, more refined sound that allows the vocals to shine. Linda Perry reappears not just as a co-singer, but as a musical kindred spirit, her gritty, impassioned delivery still razor-sharp. Together, the two artists form a powerful contrast: Perry’s rawness meets Dolly’s clarity, and the result is an emotional dialogue that spans decades and life experience.
The heart of the song remains its aching central question: “What’s going on?” But when sung by Dolly Parton, now in her late 70s and with a legacy built on resilience, charity, and purpose, the lyric carries new depth. It feels less like a young person’s scream into the void and more like a wise woman’s cry for justice and human connection—just as urgent, but tempered with experience.
In interviews, both artists expressed that this collaboration was deeply personal. Perry, who wrote “What’s Up?” as a raw, vulnerable expression of searching and disillusionment, was moved to tears hearing Dolly’s interpretation. And rightly so—because Dolly doesn’t just echo the song’s angst; she brings her own life’s journey into it, turning the track into a multi-generational anthem for anyone who’s ever felt unseen or unheard.
Their performance together is not just musically striking—it’s emotionally overwhelming. There’s a moment, especially as the song reaches its climactic cry, where their voices intertwine and soar, and it feels like a chorus of every woman, every person who’s ever asked for clarity in a world that makes too little sense.
In the hands of Dolly Parton and Linda Perry, “What’s Up?” becomes more than a rock classic. It becomes a conversation between the past and the present, between raw vulnerability and spiritual strength. It reminds us that the question is still being asked—but now with new voices, new hope, and the shared power of women who refuse to be silenced.