Dolly Parton wary of Jack White collaboration

The country singer said that she would relish the opportunity to team up with the former White Stripes rocker because she is a huge fan, but admitted she worries people would question her motives.

She told Q: 'There's been a lot of talk about Jack White wanting to work with me and I've always admired him and of course he lives in Nashville too. But I'm so picky about my music. I would never say never because he's so talented and I loved the way The White Stripes did Jolene, it's just that my music is so personal to me and I'm not going to work with someone just to have a hit.'

Many artists have covered Parton’s hits over the years – including Whitney Houston, who had a monster hit with her version of I Will Always Love You – but she said she would struggle to pick a favourite.

'A lot of people have recorded my songs and I've loved everything that everyone has ever done with them,” she said.

'I can't really pick a favourite as they're like my children and I'm so proud of them all. Of course, Whitney made me the most money. I was blown away by her version, the way she took that simple song of mine and it became her song ... I just think it's wonderful that people can take a song and do it in so many different ways.'