When Beyoncé dropped her Cowboy Carter album in March 2024, the world was ready — but no one was quite prepared for her version of “Jolene.”
Released on March 29, the genre-defying, 27-track project took country music by storm, fusing Southern grit with Beyoncé’s signature swagger. Among its many standout moments was a bold, revamped take on Dolly Parton’s classic “Jolene.” And Queen Bey didn’t just cover the song — she rewrote it.
Gone was the pleading desperation of the original. In its place? Pure fire and female power.
“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man.”
The lyrics landed like a shot of whiskey — smooth but burning. It was no longer a sorrowful plea; it was a command. Some fans praised the update as an empowering twist on a timeless narrative. Others weren’t so sure. But one voice mattered more than most: Dolly’s.
Before the album’s release, Parton had recorded a charming radio-style intro for the track titled “Dolly P,” where she set the stage for what was to come. But even she hadn’t heard Beyoncé’s final version until it went public.
Her verdict?
“Wow, I just heard Jolene. Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it!” she wrote on Instagram, signing off as “Dolly P.”
Later, she opened up to E! News with a mix of surprise and admiration.
“When they said she was gonna do ‘Jolene,’ I expected it to be my regular one, but it wasn’t,” Dolly said. “But I love what she did to it. I think it was very bold of her.”
She elaborated further in People, offering what might be the most Dolly response ever:
“Hers was more like, ‘Well, you’re not getting him, you’re not taking him, you’re going to go through me to get him.’ Mine was more like, ‘Please don’t take him!’ So I loved her interpretation.”
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter sparked debate across genres — especially when the Country Music Association ignored the album entirely at awards time. Yet, just months later, Beyoncé walked away with Best Country Album and Best Country Song at the Grammys. It was a cultural mic drop.
And while not everyone embraced the pop powerhouse’s country pivot, Dolly’s blessing said it all.
“As a writer, you like to hear how different people interpret your songs… But I was very proud of it.”
If Dolly Parton is cheering from the sidelines, the rest of us can sit down and listen.
One thing’s for sure: This “Jolene” isn’t begging. She’s standing her ground — and she’s doing it in heels.
