Dolly Parton recorded vocals for a Welsh-language version of her classic song “Jolene” before her death, with the collaboration set to be released on 9 October 2026.
The track brings together Parton, her niece Jada Star and Welsh singer-songwriter Bronwen Lewis, who first attracted attention after posting a viral video of herself performing “Jolene” in Welsh.
How Dolly Parton’s Welsh Jolene came together
Lewis, a Welsh speaker from Neath, shared her Welsh-language version of “Jolene” online around two years ago. The performance caught the attention of Jada Star, leading to a friendship between the pair and eventually a plan to officially record the song.
Star travelled from Nashville to Wales to meet Lewis before suggesting that her aunt become part of the project.
Parton subsequently recorded her vocals at her Nashville studio in early 2025 after learning the phonetics of Lewis’s Welsh translation.
Lewis had hoped to meet Parton in person, but that opportunity did not happen before the singer died on 25 August.
The pair instead decided to complete the recording as a tribute to Parton.
“To hear Dolly sing in another language, and in Welsh for the very first time, was unbelievable,”
Dolly Parton’s connection to Wales
Parton had a long-standing connection to Wales through her family history, with her maternal ancestry tracing back to the country.
The “Jolene” recording also adds a new dimension to one of the most recognisable songs in her catalogue. Originally released in 1973, the song became one of Parton’s defining recordings and has been covered by artists across multiple generations.
Parton sold more than 100 million records during a career spanning seven decades and wrote more than 3,000 songs.
Another posthumous Dolly Parton release
The Welsh-language “Jolene” is the second posthumous release connected to Parton following her death.
Her vocals also feature on U2’s “Torn”, which is set to appear on the Irish band’s upcoming album Carnaval De Luz in November. Parton recorded the song during what became her final recording sessions.
Another previously recorded Parton track has reportedly been placed in a time capsule and is not due to be heard until 2046.
The Welsh “Jolene” therefore offers another opportunity to hear Parton’s voice in previously unreleased material, while connecting one of her most famous songs with a country that held a personal significance for her family.
