Beyoncé Released A Cover Of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” In March 2024

The long-awaited Cowboy Carter album from Beyoncé, which included a cover of Dolly Parton’s iconic song “Jolene,” was released on March 29, 2024.

The 27-song album included collaborations with Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Willie Jones, and Dolly Parton. Parton was included on the ninth track, “Dolly P,” and the country legend acted like a radio DJ introducing the next song, “Jolene.”

Of course, Cowboy Carter would stir up lots of controversy within the country community and beyond. Though she dominated the charts, she did not score a single nomination at the CMA Awards, angering her loyal fans. A few months later, she took home Best Country Album and Best Country Song at the Grammys, angering country fans.

Beyoncé Changes The Lyrics To Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”

Beyoncé really made “Jolene” her own by changing most of the lyrics. Instead of the opening line, “Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, I’m begging of you, please don’t take my man,” Beyoncé sings, “Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man.”

Some fans hated the lyric change, but others were receptive to it. Of course, Dolly Parton knew Beyoncé was covering her song, but like the rest of us, she didn’t hear it until the album was released! After the album was finally released, she was able to listen to it and share her thoughts on Instagram.

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

She signed the post Dolly P.

In an interview with E! News, Parton revealed she didn’t know the “Crazy In Love” singer would be changing her lyrics.

“I think it was very bold of her,” Parton said. “When they said she was gonna do ‘Jolene,’ I expected it to be my regular one, but it wasn’t. But I love what she did to it.”

Months Later, Dolly Reveals Her Real Feelings Regarding The Cover

After telling People Magazine that she thinks Beyoncé is a “magnificent artist,” she offered up her honest opinion of the singer’s cover of “Jolene.”

She said, “I was just honored that she, of course, did a completely different take on ‘Jolene’ than my version of it. 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.”

Dolly Parton offers her opinion on Beyoncé’s version of “Jolene” (Photo Credit: Terry Wyatt/WireImage via Getty Images)

Dolly continued, “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. But I was very proud of it, and I hope her tour does great, and I’m sure it will. People seem to be loving it.”

If the song is good enough for Dolly, it’s good enough for us.