In 2005, country legend Dolly Parton released her emotional cover of John Lennon’s classic hit “Imagine” as part of her album, Those Were the Days.
The song was originally released by John Lennon of The Beatles in 1971 as part of his album of the same title. “Imagine” instantly became his best-selling single throughout his career. Aside from its mellow beat that would bring anyone to tears, the meaning behind the song was rather sentimentally universal that it continued to become a favorite among listeners, even decades after its release.
Known singers like Ray Charles, Eva Cassidy, and Dolly Parton also grew fond of the song to the point they decided to release their own versions of it.
Dolly Parton, in particular, took it to the next level. With her powerful vocals and immense popularity, she made the song an anthem for people longing for peace and unity.
Dolly Parton’s Version
In 2005, Dolly Parton surprised her fans by including “Imagine,” one of the greatest hits in country music’s history, in her studio album, Those Were the Days. For this project, she collaborated with David Foster, who helped her give the song that personal touch so fans could listen to the classic song in a unique modern way.
Compared to the original, Dolly Parton decided to sing the song in a high tone accompanied by her cursive singing to add a little bit of pop hint to her version.
In her music video, she included clips that connect with the meaning of the song – from people being united to showcasing the negative aspects of the modern world.
This made her version extra emotional since listeners could truly imagine the message of the song. It gives a clear picture of what the world could have been if peace had been prominent and depicts the world of chaos that we are all in now. Because of this, it instantly became one of Dolly Parton’s greatest hits.
So if you haven’t seen the music video yet, you can watch Dolly Parton’s amazing cover of “Imagine” below.