Nikki Sixx expressed his astonishment at Dolly Parton’s unique and heartfelt interpretation of the lyrics from Motley Crue‘s iconic song, "Home Sweet Home."

This remarkable collaboration, which resulted in a refreshed rendition of the beloved 1985 track, came to fruition after Sixx participated in Parton’s 2023 album Rockstar. The country music legend decided to create this album following her induction into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In a recent interview with Forbes, Sixx noted that he was among the first to offer his assistance to Parton for this project. His appearance on the show “Bygones” alongside rock icons Rob Halford and John 5 enabled him to facilitate the collaboration on “Home Sweet Home.”

READ MORE: Explore the Fascinating and Unusual Journey of ‘Home Sweet Home’ Covers and Remakes

“We were in Nashville with Dolly… you’ve seen the video where I’m in the studio with her,” Sixx recalled. “I felt like I was pinching myself, reminiscing about my journey from a small town in Idaho, dreaming big while riding a Greyhound bus.”

“The director asked, ‘Hey, could you just ask her to sing it one more time?’ I stared at the talkback button, glancing between the director and Dolly. I thought, ‘Are you serious? You want me to ask Dolly Parton to do it again?’ He insisted, ‘Yeah, please just ask her…’”

“I realized there was only one way to handle this. So, I said, ‘Hey, Dolly, could you sing that eight more times for me?’ She responded, ‘Well, absolutely!’ … Her manager, Danny, looked at me and said, ‘She will outwork everyone in this building. She’ll be the last one here and won’t leave until it’s absolutely perfect.’ 

“We recorded multiple takes together. She makes the process so effortless; this is why so many people admire her. She has a way of making you feel like the biggest star in the room.”

Nikki Sixx Describes Collaborating with Dolly Parton as a Pinnacle of His Career

Sixx reminisced about the moment when the idea emerged to create something extraordinary with “Home Sweet Home.” Parton responded with an enthusiastic “hard yes,” sharing that it had been one of her late husband’s all-time favorite songs.

He continued, “Dolly looked at me and said, ‘I really love these lyrics.’ … In her sweet Southern accent, she expressed, ‘When you’re young, you want to escape your home as far as possible. You want to pursue your dreams and chase after what you desire. But eventually, once you reach your destination, it’s about the journey back to your roots.’

“I was taken aback, thinking, ‘No one has ever articulated my lyrics to me so clearly.’ It resonated with me on so many levels.” He reflected, “When you write a song, it holds personal significance for you… but once it’s released into the world… it transforms into something belonging to others. 

“Everywhere we perform this song globally, it creates an intimate connection with the audience… Then Dolly comes in and revitalizes the song in a manner that maintains its original essence while also giving it a fresh perspective. [W]Working with her is undoubtedly a pinnacle experience in my career.”

Watch the Collaborative Video of Motley Crue and Dolly Parton’s ‘Home Sweet Home’