Ella Langley Takes the Stage for a Memorable Rendition of Dolly Parton’s Beloved Classic ‘Jolene’
Langley’s signature twang brought a fresh sound to the familiar lyrics.
Ella Langley; Photo by Kayla Schoen/CMA
Ella Langley took on one of the most recognizable songs in Dolly Parton’s catalog, delivering “Jolene” during “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton.”
The country star stepped on the Belmont stage dressed in an elegant, glamorous look with a stunning cream-colored dress featuring intricate rhinestone detailing across sheer mesh sleeves and a soft, yet effortless updo to complete the look.
Taking on a track as iconic and beloved as “Jolene” is no easy feat, but Langley found a way to make it her own while preserving the timeless spirit of Parton’s original. Her signature, twang-filled vocals brought a fresh sound to the familiar lyrics and had the live audience singing right along with her.
The memorable performance was introduced by Katy Perry, who called attention to Parton’s unapologetic authenticity, kindness, and remarkable ability to bring people together despite their differences. She described the icon as being “devastatingly sharp and equally as sweet” and praised her generous spirit that impacted the world in so many ways.
“For me, Dolly is the blueprint. She proved you don’t have to sacrifice softness to show your strength. You could love God while looking like a sinner, and you could be larger than life without ever making anyone else feel small. I carry those lessons with me always. And in that way, Dolly is never far. She always shared a little of her glittery grace with us new young female artists…And tonight that glitter gets passed on once again,” Perry stated before the live audience.
“CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton”
“CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton” set out to unite artists from multiple generations and genres with a star-powered list of performers. The lineup included a mix of fellow Country Music Hall of Fame members, country music superstars, and celebrated bluegrass acts, Broadway and beyond
Among those who took the stage were Ashley McBryde, Béla Fleck, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Ella Langley, Kelsea Ballerini, Kristen Bell, Kristin Chenoweth, Lady A, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Lukas Nelson, Molly Tuttle, Reba McEntire, Ricky Skaggs, Sierra Hull, Vince Gill and Zac Brown. Additionally, Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley joined as special guests.
Along with the unforgettable performances, the night featured special tributes from some of Dolly’s friends and longtime connections throughout the entertainment industry, like Bono, Carol Burnett, Goldie Hawn, Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey.
The two-hour special was broadcast live from Belmont University on ABC and Disney+ in the U.S. and internationally. Filmed before a live audience at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, the special will also be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
The CMA and Belmont University will donate a portion of the proceeds from tonight’s event to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
