It seems like Dolly Parton had a spot-on prediction. After the country legend mentioned that she thought Beyoncé might sample or interpolate her 1973 classic “Jolene” for her new album, Bey has gone ahead and done just that, even covering the song with altered lyrics and a different song structure on her much-awaited new album “Cowboy Carter.”
Parton didn’t spill all the beans though—she actually makes two appearances on the album, introducing the unique trap-meets-country track “Tyrant” and also having her own “Dolly P” interlude just before “Jolene.” “Hey miss Honey B, it’s Dolly P. You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about?” Parton quips on “Dolly P,” making a clever nod to Beyoncé’s 2016 hit “Sorry” and the infamous “Becky with the good hair” line. “Reminding me of someone I knew back when, except she has flaming locks of auburn hair, bless her heart. Just a hair of a different color but it hurts just the same.”
Beyoncé has put her own fiery twist on “Jolene,” revamping the lyrics and the overall feel of the original song. While Parton’s version is a plea to a woman not to steal her man, Beyoncé’s rendition serves as a warning to a potential suitor: “I can easily understand why you’re attracted to my man / But you don’t want this smoke, so shoot your shot for someone else.” She further emphasizes her stance by singing, “I had to have this talk with you ’cause I hate to have to act the fool / Your peace depends on how you move, Jolene.”
Parton hinted at the “Jolene” cover recently, sharing an image of the album’s tracklist on her Instagram stories with the caption, “Play the original while you wait for @beyonce’s ‘Jolene.'” Additionally, she posted a throwback photo on her grid, playfully dubbing herself “Just call me Dolly P” and setting it to the tune of Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
“Jolene” is just one of the standout covers on “Cowboy Carter,” with Beyoncé also teaming up with Tanner Adell for a duet of the Beatles’ “Blackbird” (reimagined as “Blackbird”). The album is sprinkled with several other interesting elements, including nods to the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations,” Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’,” and supposedly Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” on the Miley Cyrus duet “II Most Wanted.”
“Cowboy Carter” comes hot on the heels of Beyoncé’s surprise release of two singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” during the Super Bowl in early February. She revealed in an Instagram post that the inspiration behind “Cowboy Carter” stemmed from a moment where she felt unwelcome, likely referring to the controversial performance with the Dixie Chicks (as they were known then) at the 2016 Country Music Association Awards.
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