Dolly Parton’s ‘World on Fire’ Tops Rock Digital Song Sales Chart

Dolly Parton’s first rock-influenced album is off to a good start on Billboard’s charts, as its lead single, “World on Fire,” jumps to No. 1 on the Rock Digital Song Sales tally dated May 27.

In the May 12-18 tracking week, “World on Fire” sold 6,000 downloads in the United States, according to Luminate. That’s after it moved 1,000 downloads in its first day of release, May 11, sparking its No. 13 debut on the May 20-dated survey (reflecting sales May 5-11). At the time, it became Parton’s first appearance on a Billboard rock chart.

In addition to its first full week of tracking, the tune was also bolstered by Parton’s performance of it on the Academy of Country Music Awards late on May 11, with that live video uploaded to Parton’s YouTube page May 12.

The track concurrently opens at No. 3 on Country Digital Song Sales, Parton’s best rank since her Kenny Rogers duet “Islands in the Stream” hit No. 2 in April 2020 after Rogers’ death.

“World on Fire” also ignites at Nos. 21 and 26 on the multi-metric Hot Rock Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts, respectively. In addition to its download count, the song earned 1.5 million official U.S. streams May 12-18, as well as 98,000 radio audience impressions.

It’s the first taste of Parton’s LP Rockstar, due Nov. 17. The 30-song set features a score of collaborators, including Joan Jett, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Steven Tyler and more.

Parton recently chatted with NBC’s Today about the song, which she solely wrote and which touches on the divisive nature of politicians. “I just really think often that they worry more about their party than they do about the people,” she said, expressing hope that they – “All of ’em, any of ’em ” – would “just do what we felt was the right thing … what comes from the heart.”