Country music icon Dolly Parton just praised Beyoncé for her rendition of "Jolene" that appears on Queen Bey's newest album, Cowboy Carter.
The original 1973 hit song, listed as one of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" by Rolling Stone magazine, is sung by a narrator worried about a stunningly beautiful woman with red hair named "Jolene" who she fears might steal her husband.
Parton said the song was inspired by an actual scenario in which a redheaded bank teller flirted with Parton's husband, Carl Dean, when the couple were newlyweds.
In 2024, the temptress is still up to no good, as Jolene is still seducing men who are not available.
In Beyoncé's cover of the iconic hit song, some of the original lyrics have been altered to:
“Jolene, I’m warnin’ you, woman, find you your own man."
“Jolene, I know I’m a queen, Jolene. I’m still a Creole banjee b*tch from Louisianne.”
Parton took to Instagram and commiserated with her.
She said of Bey's take on her song:
“Wow, I just heard 'Jolene'. Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it!”
Fans had a thing or two to say about the female trouble.
@dollyparton/Instagram
@dollyparton/Instagram
@dollyparton/Instagram
@dollyparton/Instagram
@dollyparton/Instagram
Fans rejoiced over the music crossover event.
@dollyparton/Instagram
@dollyparton/Instagram
@dollyparton/Instagram
@dollyparton/Instagram
Two years ago, Parton spoke to Trevor Noah and expressed hope that Beyoncé would do a cover of "Jolene" in response to the rumor that a collaboration between the two artists could be in the works.
“I don’t know if she’s even got the message, but wouldn’t that be killer?” she said in The Daily Show interview.
Parton gave props to the "Crazy in Love" singer and hoped she would breathe new life into "Jolene."
"I think she’s fantastic and beautiful, and I love her music," said Parton, adding:
"I would just love to hear ‘Jolene’ done in just a big way, kind of like how Whitney did my ‘I Will Always Love You,’ just someone who can take my little songs and make ’em like powerhouses."
"So that would be a marvelous day in my life, if she ever does do ‘Jolene.’”
Dolly, the day you wished for has arrived.
You can hear Bey's rendition of "Jolene" in the clip below.
Beyoncé - JOLENE (Official Lyric Video)youtu.be
Cowboy Carter is Beyoncé's eighth studio album and is the second installment of a COVID-19 pandemic-era trilogy project that followed her 2022 album Renaissance.
The newest album is mostly labeled a country album with elements of different music genres including hip-hop, blues, folk, soul, and rock.
Parton joined fellow country musicians Linda Martell and Willie Nelson in contributing to Cowboy Carter in interlude tracks on the album.
In the track titled “Dolly P,” Parton gives a nod to Bey's song "Sorry" on her Lemonade album and says:
“Hey, Miss Honeybee, it’s Dolly P."
"You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about?”
“Reminded me of someone I knew back when. Except she has flaming locks of auburn hair,” continues Parton, referencing lyrics from "Jolene."
She adds:
“Bless her heart. Just a hair of a different color, but it hurts just the same.”
Beyoncé, Dolly Parton - DOLLY P (Official Lyric Video)youtu.be
Cowboy Carter smashed records upon its release as the most streamed album in a single day on Spotify in 2024 so far.
With 76 million streams globally in a single day on the platform, Cowboy Carter became the sixth-highest first-day count for any female album, and the highest for any album by a Black female artist.
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