Dolly Parton responds to Beyonce’s cover of Jolene, approves of the changes in lyrics 

On March 29, 2024, Beyonce released her newest album, Cowboy Carter, which features her rendition of Dolly Parton’s beloved 1973 hit, Jolene. While she stayed true to the original melody, Beyonce added her own touch to the lyrics, giving the song a fresh perspective.

On March 29, Dolly Parton expressed her approval of the new lyrics in Beyonce’s version of Jolene through a new Instagram post.

“Wow, I just heard Jolene. Beyonce is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it! Love, Dolly P.”

The modifications to the lyrics are easily identifiable when Queen Bey begins to sing.

“I’m warning you, don’t come for my man.”

The lyrics written by Dolly Parton state,

“I’m beggin’ of you, please don’t take my man.”

What sets Beyonce’s rendition of Jolene apart from Dolly Parton’s original version?

Beyonce’s rendition of Dolly Parton’s 1973 hit Jolene is a complete reimagining of the original track. While Parton’s version portrays a sense of desperation and pleading for the “other woman”to leave her man, Beyonce’s rendition exudes a more powerful and bold attitude.

In addition, Beyonce incorporates a unique melody that differs from those used in Parton’s songs. As she sings the lyrics, “I sleep good happy, ’cause you can’t dig up our planted seeds,”the song’s minor key transitions into a more positive major key.

In the second stanza, Parton’s original lyrics read,

“Your beauty is beyond compare / With flaming locks of auburn hair/ With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green/ Your smile is like a breath of spring / Your voice is soft like summer rain / And I cannot compete with you, Jolene.”

Beyonce alludes to her relationship with Jay-Z in contrast.

“You’re beautiful, beyond compare/ Takes more than beauty and seductive stares/ To come between a family and a happy man/ Jolene, I’m a woman too/ The games you play are nothing new/ So you don’t want no heat with me, Jolene/We’ve been deep in love for twenty years.”

It was particularly meaningful to see Beyonce perform the song, as Dolly Parton had predicted two years ago that she would one day cover it. During his time as host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah addressed a rumor about Parton specifically requesting Beyonce’s rendition of Jolene. Despite there being over 400 versions of the original song, Noah questioned why Parton had her heart set on Beyonce’s version.

Parton expressed her desire for a powerful rendition of her hit song Jolene by Beyonce, similar to the beloved cover of I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston.

“I don’t know if she’s even got the message, but wouldn’t that be killer? I think she’s fantastic and beautful, and I love her music. I would just love to hear ‘Jolene’ done in just a big way, kind of like how Whitney did my ‘I Will Always Love You,’ just someone who can take my little songs and make ’em like powerhouses.”

During an interview with Fox News in March of 2024, Parton disclosed that Beyonce had recorded a version of the song for her upcoming country album.