Mötley Crüe bassist NIKKI SIXX Explains DOLLY PARTON Collab: 'She Was a Hard Yes'

Summary
- Nikki Sixx recalls missing Dolly Parton’s call, only to end up recording Home Sweet Home together for its 40th anniversary.
- Parton says the lyrics reflect a journey ‘back to your roots’, and shares how the song touched her and her late husband.
- The duet hit No. 1 on the Classic Rock Songs chart; proceeds will support Covenant House youth programs.
Mötley Crüe and Dolly Parton have released a new version of Home Sweet Home to mark the song’s 40th anniversary. The track debuted at No. 1 on the Mediabase Classic Rock Songs chart in June.
The duet is part of the upcoming Crüe compilation From The Beginning, set for release on September 12, 2025.
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How it started
Nikki Sixx first joined Dolly Parton’s Rockstar album after reading that she intended to record a rock album following her 2022 Rock Hall nomination. (via Forbes)
“I want to play bass on that record,” he recalled saying to his manager. He was one of the first to reach out, cut his part, and later got a call from a Tennessee number he didn’t recognize.
“After the message was done, I pushed play and it was, like, ‘Nikki, this is Dolly,’” he said. The two had a phone conversation that covered songwriting, touring, and flower arrangements.
Sixx’s wife runs Bouquet Box, a flower company that sent arrangements to Parton. That gesture turned into a personal exchange and eventually led to the collaboration.
Personal meaning
Dolly Parton’s late husband Carl Dean considered Home Sweet Home one of his favorites. Parton reportedly connected deeply with the lyrics.
“When you’re young, you want to get as far away from home as possible… then once you get there, it’s the journey getting back to your roots,” she told Sixx.
He responded: “No one’s ever explained my lyrics to me that clear.”
Charity support
A portion of proceeds from the new version will benefit Covenant House, which provides support for youth facing homelessness.
Both Parton and Mötley Crüe emphasized this partnership in their statements, calling the collaboration a career milestone and noting the added value of giving back.
Prior collaboration
This is not the first chart-topping team-up between Crüe members and Parton. Nikki Sixx and John 5 also played on Bygones, a Parton single from Rockstar that also featured Rob Halford. That track also hit No. 1.
Residency details
Mötley Crüe will launch a 10-show Las Vegas residency on September 12, the same day From The Beginning is released. The shows run through October 3 at Dolby Live at Park MGM. These are the band’s only scheduled performances for 2025.
Merch and video
A limited-edition Dölly Crüe merch line is available online. The official video for Home Sweet Home (featuring Parton) has surpassed one million views on YouTube. The clip mirrors the band’s original 1985 video.
Album overview
From The Beginning will be released on CD and vinyl by BMG. The CD contains 19 tracks. The 2LP vinyl version includes 21, with two LP-only songs: Afraid and Cancelled.
The tracklist includes hits like Live Wire, Shout At The Devil, Girls, Girls, Girls, Dr. Feelgood, Kickstart My Heart, and The Dirt.
The final track on both formats is the new version of Home Sweet Home with Parton.
Vinyl tracklist
Side A
- Live Wire
- Take Me To The Top
- Shout At The Devil (remastered)
- Looks That Kill (remastered)
- Too Young To Fall In Love (remastered)
- Smokin’ In The Boys Room (remastered)
Side B
- Home Sweet Home (remastered)
- Girls, Girls, Girls
- Wild Side
- Dr. Feelgood
- Without You
Side C
- Kickstart My Heart
- Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
- Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)
- Primal Scream
- Afraid *
Side D
- Saints Of Los Angeles
- The Dirt (Est. 1981)
- Dogs Of War
- Cancelled *
- Home Sweet Home (feat. Dolly Parton)
(* LP-only tracks)
Background context
Guitarist John 5 joined the band in late 2022, replacing Mick Mars, who stepped back from touring due to health concerns.
The group released the Cancelled EP in October 2023, including three tracks recorded with Bob Rock: Dogs Of War, the title track, and a cover of the Beastie Boys’ Fight For Your Right (To Party!).
Their deal with Big Machine continues a partnership that began with 2014’s Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To Mötley Crüe, which featured Crüe songs covered by country artists like Rascal Flatts and Florida Georgia Line.
Recent discography
The band’s last full studio album was 2008’s Saints Of Los Angeles (listen below). In 2018, they contributed four new tracks to the The Dirt biopic soundtrack, including a cover of Madonna’s Like A Virgin.
Since then, they’ve leaned into collaborations, nostalgia releases, and curated collections to remain active in the rock scene.
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