Dolly Parton has praised Beyoncé’s powerful reimagining of her 1973 country classic Jolene, calling the version featured on Cowboy Carter “honouring” and “magnificent”.
In a recent interview with People, the country legend opened up about how it felt to hear Queen Bey’s fierce new take on the song, which flips the original’s vulnerability into defiance.
“I was just honoured that she, of course, did a completely different take on Jolene than my version of it,” Dolly said.
“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.”
Originally released in 1973, Jolene sees Dolly pleading with a woman not to steal her man. Beyoncé’s 2024 version changes the tone entirely, swapping the line: “I’m beggin’ of you, please don’t take my man” for “I’m warning you, don’t come for my man.”
Dolly, who turns 80 next year, said she appreciates hearing other artists bring fresh perspectives to her songwriting.
“As a writer, you like to hear how different people interpret your songs, and how they put their own spin and do their own take on it.”
She also had high praise for Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album, calling it:
“A really good album. I’m a huge fan of hers — I mean, who’s not? Everybody loves her. I think she’s a magnificent artist, beautiful and [I admire] the dancing in addition to the singing.”
Beyoncé is currently on her stadium tour, with her next show set for London on 5 June 2025.
