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Dolly Parton Celebrates 52 Years of “Jolene” with Throwback Video
Dolly Parton is celebrating the 52nd anniversary of her iconic song “Jolene.”
The country icon, 79, posted a throwback video of herself performing the track on Instagram on Wednesday, Oct. 15. “52 years of ‘Jolene!’ 💖 🎶,” she captioned the post. The hit song,released in 1973,is loosely based on a real muse.
“Jolene” is loosely based on a real redhead who once flirted with Parton’s late husband Carl Dean at a bank shortly after they were married. In the song, Dolly begs Jolene, described as a woman whose “beauty is beyond compare, with flaming locks of auburn hair” not to “take” her man, as she “coudl never love again” if she lost him.
“[The] song was loosely based on a little bit of truth,” Parton said during Glastonbury festival in 2014, per The Independent. “I wrote that years ago when my husband… was spending a little more time with Jolene than I thought he should be.”
“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” Parton told NPR in 2008. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda
The Story behind Dolly Parton’s Iconic Song “Jolene”
Dolly Parton’s enduring hit “Jolene” was inspired by a real person she met after a performance. As Parton recounted, she was approached by a strikingly stunning woman with vibrant red hair and captivating green eyes requesting 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.'”
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dolly-parton-jolene-song-story-1243249/
The song, released as the title track and first single from her 1973 album Jolene, quickly became a signature piece in Parton’s discography and a cornerstone of country music.
https://www.amazon.com/Jolene-Dolly-Parton/dp/B000V6XJ4U
In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked “Jolene” at no. 63 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song’s enduring appeal lies in its relatable themes of romantic yearning and honest, vulnerable lyrics.
“Jolene” has received notable recognition throughout its history, including induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame and two nominations for the Best Female Country Vocal Performance grammy.
The song’s influence extends beyond Parton’s own performances, having been covered by over 30 artists in various languages over the past 52 years. Notable interpretations include versions by The White Stripes, Olivia Newton-John, Miley Cyrus, Måneskin, and, most recently, Beyoncé.
Beyoncé’s rendition,featured on her 2024 album Cowboy Carter,includes an interlude voiced by Parton herself,titled “Dolly P.”
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