Dolly Parton—Er, “Dolly P”—Gives Her Stamp of Approval to Beyoncé’s Cover of ‘Jolene’
The country music legend has wanted Bey to cover her classic song for years.
Dolly Parton is a legend in the country music space, so what she says goes, okay? And her verdict on Beyoncé’s long-rumored Cowboy Carter cover of Parton’s 1973 hit “Jolene”—a country music classic—is just as awestruck as the rest of us.
“Wow, I just heard Jolene,” Parton posted on Instagram this afternoon. “Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it!” She signed the message “Love, Dolly P.”
A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton)
A photo posted by on
Speaking of “Dolly P,” that is the name of the track that serves as a brief introduction to the “Jolene” cover; on “Dolly P,” Parton makes reference to Lemonade, Beyoncé’s 2016 album, specifically the track “Sorry,” where she calls out “Becky with the good hair.” On “Dolly P,” Parton says, in what sounds like a voice message to Beyoncé, “Hey Miss Honey B, it’s Dolly P. You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about? Reminding me of someone I knew back when, except she has flaming locks of auburn hair, bless her heart. Just a hair of a different color, but it hurts just the same.”
The 2024 “Jolene” has lyrics that are drastically revised from the 1973 original, including replacing Parton’s original “begging” lyrics with fierce demands. The Parton version contains the lyrics “I’m begging of you, please don’t take my man.” The Beyoncé version, however, is much more firm: “Jolene, Jolene, I’m warning you, don’t come for my man.” Later, Bey threatens “Jolene, I know I’m a queen / Jolene, I’m still a Creole Banjee bitch from Louisiana / Don’t try me.”
Per Deadline, during a 2022 interview with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show, Parton said she wanted “Jolene” to be covered “in just a big way, kind of like how Whitney [Houston] did my ‘I Will Always Love You.’ Someone that can take my little songs and make them, like, powerhouses.” (First of all, they’re not “little” songs—and did you know that Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene” on the same day?!)
That must have been an epic day in Parton’s life, as must be today, as Parton herself said it would be two years ago: “That would be a marvelous day in my life, if she [Beyoncé] ever does ‘Jolene,'" she told Noah.
A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)
A photo posted by on
Consider today a good one for “Dolly P.” And P.S., in addition to the “Dolly P” interlude, Parton appears elsewhere on the album—but we’ll let you figure out where exactly for yourself as you listen to Cowboy Carter’s 27 tracks.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
Queen Mary of Denmark Was Hit By a Scooter While Visiting Greenland
Video of the accident was shared on TikTok.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Every Pet Owner Needs This Holy-Grail Service
Sponsor Content Created With Dutch
By Emma Walsh Published
-
17 Chic Pieces for Transitional Dressing Made Easy
Including a Katie Holmes-approved jacket for $400 off.
By Brooke Knappenberger Published
-
Tina Knowles Shares That Her Daughter Solange Was Conceived on the Nile River in Egypt
Had she been a boy, her name would have paid direct homage to the place of her conception.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Beyoncé's Name Is Being Added to French Dictionary
Next-level stardom right there.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Sarah Michelle Gellar Would "Take a Phone Call" From Dolly Parton About a 'Buffy' Revival
Oh my goodness.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Beyoncé Was "A Mom First" Working With Daughter Blue Ivy Carter on 'Mufasa'
This will be the pre-teen's movie debut.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
After a Toddler Named Tyler Says “Beyoncé Is My Friend” In a Viral TikTok, She Reaches Out with Flowers, Gifts, and a Confirmation of Their Friendship
“I see your halo, Tyler.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Courtney Love Says Taylor Swift Is "Not Important" and "Not Interesting as an Artist"
Wow, saying that is... a choice.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Beyoncé Considers ‘Cowboy Carter’ “The Best Music I’ve Ever Made”
Interestingly, the 27-track album was supposed to come out before ‘Renaissance,’ but was delayed for a very specific reason.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Miley Cyrus Says Beyoncé Is "Everything" After 'Cowboy Carter' Collab
"My admiration runs so much deeper now."
By Meghan De Maria Published