Dolly Parton’s famed ballad, “Jolene,” was “loosely primarily based on a little bit little bit of fact” by a lady who had a crush on the singer’s late husband, Carl Dean.
Dean’s demise was introduced by the singer on Monday, March 3. He was 82. Though he remained out of the highlight for many years, he notably impressed one in every of her most iconic songs, “Jolene.”
The singer’s October 1973 hit track chronicles one girl’s jealousy surrounding her important different’s curiosity in one other girl. However the “actual” Jolene didn’t attempt to “take” Dean. As a substitute, she had a flirtatious banter with him when she helped him on the financial institution.
“[The] track was loosely primarily based on a little bit little bit of fact,” she mentioned throughout the 2014 Glastonbury Competition, per The Impartial. “I wrote that years in the past when my husband… was spending a little bit extra time with Jolene than I believed he needs to be.”
“She acquired this horrible crush on my husband,” Parton informed NPR in 2008. “And he simply liked going to the financial institution as a result of she paid him a lot consideration. It was kinda like a operating joke between us — after I was saying, ‘Hell, you are spending quite a lot of time on the financial institution. I do not imagine we have that sort of cash.’ So it is actually an harmless track throughout, however seems like a dreadful one.”
“She had every part I did not, like legs — you realize, she was about 6 toes tall. And had all that stuff that some little brief, sawed-off honky like me haven’t got,” Parton informed NPR. “So regardless of how stunning a lady is perhaps, you are at all times threatened by sure… You are at all times threatened by different ladies, interval.”
As for whether or not or not that financial institution teller was named Jolene, Parton confirmed she determined to make use of the identify of a younger fan.
“One night time, I used to be on stage, and there was this stunning little woman — she was in all probability 8 years previous on the time,” Parton informed NPR.
“And he or she had this stunning crimson hair, this stunning pores and skin, these stunning inexperienced eyes, and he or she was trying up at me, holding, you realize, for an autograph,” Parton continued. “I mentioned, ‘Properly, you are the prettiest little factor I ever noticed. So what’s your identify?’ And he or she mentioned, ‘Jolene.’ And I mentioned, ‘Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.’ I mentioned, ‘That’s fairly. That seems like a track. I will write a track about that.’ ”
Regardless of the singer’s frustration with the financial institution teller’s flirtatious nature with Dean, Parton thanked “Jolene” throughout the 2014 Glastonbury Competition.
“I would like you people to know, although, that one thing good can come from something. Had it not been for that girl I’d by no means have written ‘Jolene’ and I would not have made all that cash, so thanks, Jolene.”
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“Jolene,” which was positioned No. 63 on Rolling Stone‘s 2024 listing of the 500 Biggest Songs of All Time, turned an iconic track in Parton’s discography and nation music. The track was the primary single and title observe of her 1973 album of the identical identify.
The track was inducted into the Grammy Corridor Of Fame. It was nominated for the Finest Feminine Nation Vocal Efficiency Grammy award twice. The primary time for the unique recording in 1975, and the subsequent yr for a stay recording.
The track has been coated in numerous languages by greater than 30 singers in its 52-year historical past — together with The White Stripes, Olivia Newton-John, Miley Cyrus, Mindy Smith and lots of extra. Beyoncé coated the track for her 2024 album, Cowboy Carter, and he or she requested Parton to offer the duvet’s interlude, titled “Dolly P.”
