The Legacy of “Jolene”: Dolly Parton’s Iconic Song Inspires Generations, Including Beyoncé
Here’s the history of the song.
Dolly Parton; Photo by Andrew Wendowski, Beyonce; Photo Courtesy Instagram
Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” became the talk of the internet on Wednesday when Beyoncé seemingly unveiled the track list for her new album, Act 2: Cowboy Carter, on social media. The tracks were revealed in a graphic that resembles a rodeo poster and among them is “Jolene,” one of Parton’s most recognizable songs. “Dolly P” also appeared on the poster, signaling that this may be a collaboration with the country music icon.
As fans eagerly await the release of Cowboy Carter, which drops this Friday, March 29, here’s a look back on the history of “Jolene.”
What’s The Story Behind Dolly Parton’s “Jolene?”
Dolly Parton is the sole songwriter of “Jolene” and was inspired to write the song after her beloved husband, Carl Dean, visited a bank near their home. There was a teller at the bank who took a liking to Carl Dean and Parton caught wind of it.
“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” Parton previously told NPR. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us — when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.’ So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”
The title of the song and inspiration for the character of “Jolene” originated from a youthful admirer who sought Dolly Parton’s autograph at one of her live performances.
“One night, I was on stage, and there was this beautiful little girl — she was probably 8 years old at the time,” Parton explained. “And she had this beautiful red hair, this beautiful skin, these beautiful green eyes, and she was looking up at me, holding, you know, for an autograph. I said, ‘Well, you’re the prettiest little thing I ever saw. So what is your name?’ And she said, ‘Jolene.’ And I said, ‘Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.’ I said, ‘That is pretty. That sounds like a song. I’m going to write a song about that.’”
When Was “Jolene” Released?
Bob Ferguson produced the song at RCA Studio B and it ultimately became the first single and title track of her 1974 album. The song was officially released on October 15, 1973 and quickly climbed the charts, marking Dolly Parton’s second solo No.1 hit. “Jolene” also achieved success in the UK, reaching No.7 on the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart upon its release as a single.
“Jolene” has garnered numerous accolades, such as its inclusion as No. 217 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list in 2004. Additionally, it received Grammy nominations for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the 17th and 18th Grammy Awards and won Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 59th Grammy Awards for Pentatonix’s cover. The song was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
Which Artists Have Covered “Jolene?”
To this day, “Jolene” marks Parton’s most-covered song, according to the Country Music Hall of Famer herself. It has been performed by the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Gabby Barrett, and now, Beyoncé.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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