Miranda Lambert Says Dolly Parton Is ‘All Over’ Her New Album Crisco

The “Kerosene” singer says Parton’s spirit runs through Crisco, her country-disco album, out now.

NEED TO KNOW

• Miranda Lambert’s album Crisco, released Oct. 2 via MCA, draws on the 1970s and ’80s country-disco era.
• Lambert and Chris Stapleton recorded “A Song to Sing” to evoke Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ duets.
• Parton died Aug. 25 at 80, and Lambert expects her influence to keep showing up in her music.

Miranda Lambert did not have to look far for a reference point while making Crisco.

“Dolly’s all over this, energy-wise,” Lambert, 42, told Billboard.

The 12-track album is her first for MCA and follows 2024’s Postcards From Texas. Lambert produced it with Jesse Frasure.

The comments carry extra weight after Parton’s death on Aug. 25. She died peacefully in Nashville at age 80, her publicist said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

In the same interview, Lambert called Parton an angel and said she expects Parton to keep influencing her music “from up there.”

Here’s everything to know about Parton’s influence on Crisco, Lambert’s country-disco album, and what Lambert has said about her.

Lambert and Parton first sang together on the Dumplin’ soundtrack in 2018

Lambert met Parton for the first time in 2018. The two recorded Parton’s 1967 song “Dumb Blonde” for the Dumplin’ soundtrack.

Lambert recalled that Parton advised her to “find your good light” during that session.

Lambert announced Crisco in June as a country-disco record

Lambert announced the album in late June, with an Oct. 2 release date. Several singles came first, including the title track and “Till The Going’s Gone.”

She wrote the songs with collaborators including Natalie Hemby, Ashley Monroe, Waylon Payne, Aaron Raitiere and Josh Osborne.

Lambert said in a statement that she has “always loved every corner of country music.”

She named her touchstones in a June interview with Whiskey Riff: “Glen Campbell, Kenny and Dolly; very ’70s and ’80s.”

Lambert and Chris Stapleton channeled Kenny Rogers and Parton on “A Song to Sing”

The Stapleton duet was released to country radio on July 14, 2025, and earned a Grammy nomination.

Lambert told Billboard she wrote it to capture the glitzy spirit of the Rogers and Parton duets she grew up loving. The song later landed on Crisco.

Lambert and Frasure built Crisco around strings and a “Miranda-politan” playlist

Lambert first thought she was making a shorter EP. Frasure instead built a world around the countrypolitan era and the Studio 54 sound.

He made her a playlist titled “Miranda-politan.” It included Glen Campbell’s “Southern Nights,” Ronnie Milsap’s “Smoky Mountain Rain,” the Bee Gees’ “Too Much Heaven,” and songs by Parton, Patsy Cline and Elvis.

Lambert said she had never recorded with strings before. They now run through the title track and “Two Things Can Be True,” alongside lush harmonies and piano.

Billboard also noted nods to Cline, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn across the record.

Parton died on Aug. 25, and Lambert said her influence will continue

Parton’s family and publicist announced her death on Aug. 25. She was 80.

Lambert told Billboard she believes Parton will keep “showing up” in her music and blazing a trail.

Lambert said she wants Crisco to feel lighthearted

Lambert said in her album statement that she has made many records with heavy subjects. This one, she said, feels mostly lighthearted.

She told Billboard her goal is for listeners to want to do something fun, such as roller skating or taking a Sunday drive.

Crisco is out now everywhere via MCA.