Dolly Parton Reacts to Beyonce’s ‘Jolene’ Cover in Cowboy Carter Album

Dolly Parton has found herself in a conversation she couldn’t ignore. Since Beyonce released the tracklist of her upcoming country album “Cowboy Carter” this Wednesday and revealed a song named “Jolene” was on the lineup, Dolly Parton, the queen of country music, has spoken out.

The country icon, 75, later took to her Instagram Stories to mark the “Black Is King” news with a simple message. “Play the original while you wait for @beyonce’s ‘Jolene,'” wrote the 10-time Grammy winner, linking to a stream of her 1974 hit.

Beyonce did not specify whether the “Jolene” on her upcoming album, set for release Friday (March 29), is a cover or a duet with Parton. The tracklist also suggested that other artists on the album would include country greats Willie Nelson and Linda Martell, but it did not indicate in what capacity.

Earlier, Parton quashed the speculation that Beyoncé had indeed crooned her soulful track. “Well, I think she has,” she said in an interview with Knox News. “I think she’s recorded ‘Jolene,’ and I think it’s probably going to be on her country album, which I’m very excited about.”

Parton added that she respects the 32-time Grammy Award winner, commenting, “I love her! She is a beautiful girl, and she’s a great singer.”

“Jolene” bested No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1974, while it also reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart in the same month. In turn, this song scored Parton her first Grammy nod for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1975, while a live version collected another nomination the following year.