The real story behind Dolly Parton's iconic song 'Jolene'

The enduring story behind Dolly Parton's classic country song "Jolene" reveals its origins in two distinct real-life encounters. The beloved 1973 track, known for its tale of a woman pleading with another not to take her man, draws its lyrical power from Parton's personal experiences. The character Jolene was inspired by a beautiful, red-haired bank teller who flirted with Parton's husband, Carl Dean. "She fell madly in love with my husband," Parton recounted to NPR. "And he just loved going to the bank, because she paid him so much attention. It was like a joke between us – I’d say, ‘Hell, you’re going over there to the bank again. Don’t you think we got enough money?’" Parton described the inspiration as innocent, noting that while the song sounds dramatic, the situation was lighthearted. The name "Jolene," however, came from a different source: a young fan. Parton recalled meeting a "beautiful little thing" with "terrible red hair, beautiful skin, beautiful green eyes" after a performance. When the girl, about 8 years old, handed Parton a piece of paper for an autograph, Parton asked her name. "Jolene," the girl replied. "I said, 'Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.' I said, 'That’s pretty. It sounds like a song. I’m going to write a song about that,'" Parton shared. Recorded at the legendary RCA Studio B in Nashville, "Jolene" featured contributions from prominent Nashville session musicians. Released as a single, the song topped Billboard's country chart and has since become a standard, inspiring 97 different cover versions. Notable artists who have reinterpreted the song include Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, The White Stripes, Ellie Goulding, and The Sisters of Mercy. Parton herself approved of Beyoncé's 2024 rendition on the album "Cowboy Carter."

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She fell madly in love with my husband. And he just loved going to the bank, because she paid him so much attention. It was like a joke between us – I’d say, ‘Hell, you’re going over there to the bank again. Don’t you think we got enough money?’