When Beyoncé recorded a cover of Dolly Parton’s iconic hit, Jolene, she put a new spin on the lyrics, which was news to Dolly.
The country music legend chatted with E! about the chart-topping remake, and she admitted that while Beyoncé did let Dolly know she was recording the song, she didn’t tell her she was giving it an overhaul. When Dolly listened, she was both surprised and pleased.
“I think it was very bold of her,” she shared. “When they said she was gonna do Jolene, I expected it to be my regular one, but it wasn’t. But I love what she did to it.”
The 1973 hit is a well-known lyrical story about a beautiful woman who has her eyes on Dolly’s man. In it, Dolly begs her not to take him “just because” she can.
Beyoncé gave that story a modern twist where Jolene is trying to make a move on her man, but she knows she doesn’t stand a chance. Instead of asking “Please don’t take my man,” the 2024 rendition says, “I’m warning you, don’t come for my man.”
“Takes more than beauty and seductive stares/To come between a family and a happy man,” she continued. “Jolene, I’m a woman too/Thе games you play are nothing new/So you don’t want no heat with me, Jolene.”
Dolly Parton Recorded The Introduction To Beyoncé’s “Jolene”
Dolly Parton admitted she appreciated Beyoncé’s updates adding, “You love the fact that people do your songs no matter how they do them.”
“She wasn’t gonna go beg some other woman like I did,” Dolly laughed. “‘Don’t steal my man.’ S—, get out here, b**ch. You ain’t stealin’ mine.”
Dolly Parton lent her voice to the new Jolene. As the single opens, you can hear Dolly’s voice saying, “Hey, Miss Honey Bey. It’s Dolly P. You know that hussy with the good hair you sang about? Reminded 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 renovated Jolene appears on Beyoncé’s country debut album, Cowboy Carter.
This story’s featured image is by Theo Wargo/Getty Images.
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