Dolly Parton leaves behind an enduring legacy following her death on Aug. 25. The country music icon amassed countless hits and accolades, but few songs have stood the test of time quite like her beloved tune "Jolene."
The classic track was originally released on Oct. 15, 1973 as the lead single from Parton's 13th studio album of the same name. The country music icon was inspired to write "Jolene" after a red-haired bank clerk flirted with her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean.
The song, which is more than 50 years old, has been regarded as one of the most renowned songs in country music. However, its legacy has transcended genre lines. In 2004, the song was ranked no. 217 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" and no. 63
on the revised list in 2021. "Jolene" was nominated twice at the Grammys for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, in 1975 and 1976. However, it would be its cover that featured Parton as a guest singer by an a cappella group called Pentatonix that would earn a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance in 2017.
The song has continued to have a constant presence throughout pop culture, with multiple generations discovering, covering and falling in love with the tune. Twin brothers and Youtubers Tim and Fred Williams garnered more than 6 million viewers for their reaction to the country song, and they are not alone. Many younger music fans are continuing to discover her music and love her generous legacy.
Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced the music icon's death at the age of 80 on Aug. 25 in a video posted to social media. Parton leaves behind countless songs that will outlive her for generations to come, including "Jolene," which continues to make an impact on modern music.
Beyoncé covers Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' in 2024
In 2024, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter covered "Jolene" on her eighth studio album, "Cowboy Carter," putting a new spin on the classic song. The song is preceded by an interlude titled "Dolly P." in which Parton refers to the younger singer as "Miss Honey Bey." In Parton's version of "Jolene," she pleads with a rival not to steal her man. In contrast, Beyoncé warns off her adversary with freestyle energy in her own version.
In her remake, Beyoncé sings: "You’re beautiful, beyond compare / Takes more than beauty and seductive stares / To come between a family and a happy man / Jolene, I'm a woman too / Thе games you play are nothing new / So you don't want no hеat with me, Jolene / We've been deep in love for 20 years / I raised that man, I raised his kids / I know my man better than he knows himself (Yeah, what?) / I can easily understand / Why you're attracted to my man / But you don't want this smoke, so shoot your shot with someone else (You heard me)."
Following Beyoncé's rendition, Parton's original "Jolene" song saw an 11,610% increase in streams, according to Rolling Stone.
"Jolene" has been covered in English and Spanish by many artists, including Olivia Newton-John, the White Stripes, Miley Cyrus, Pentatonix, Becky G, Stephanie Urbina Jones and many others.
Miley Cyrus famously covers 'Jolene' with Dolly Parton
Cyrus, Parton's goddaughter and pop star in her own right, has covered "Jolene" several times between 2010 and 2019. Together, they delivered several joint performances, including the 2019 Grammy Awards. Cyrus and Parton took the stage together to sing the track during a special tribute in honor of Parton.
In 2022, the "Hannah Montana" star also covered the song on her live album "Attention: Miley Live."
The White Stripes put rock spin on their 'Jolene' cover
The White Stripes rock duo released their first "Jolene" cover in May 2009. But their most-regarded live version was released as a single to promote their concert film, "Under Blackpool Lights," in 2004. Their version is celebrated as a high-energy rock version of the classic.
The real woman behind 'Jolene'
While speaking about the song in 2023 to USA TODAY, Parton joked about the woman who inspired the track, underscoring its continued relevancy in modern music.
"I saw her recently and she was big as a barn!" she said. "No, actually, it wasn't as severe as I made the song. I was just a little jealous that she was prettier than me, so you always feel a little threatened when that happens. But it was not a big deal ‒ it was just good for a song, let's put it that way. And I was only joking about seeing her."
From the 70s to the 2020s, "Jolene" continues having a proven impact on many generations and on music, more broadly, forever.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' and its enduring impact
