Time to break out your best cowgirl boots and practice your southern accent, because Beyoncé’s country album might have just gotten even more iconic. Act II, the second installment of her three-act project, following Renaissance, is set to be released on March 29. While the singles from the album are remarkable, like “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em,” it’s looking like Queen Bey may be covering one of the most iconic country songs of all time: “Jolene” by Dolly Parton.
This exciting news comes from none other than Parton herself. During an interview with Knox News on March 8, Parton shared that she believes Beyoncé has covered “Jolene” for the new album. “‘Well, I think she has! I think she’s recorded ‘Jolene’ and I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about,’” Parton shared. If this news is true, prepare to be sick of me, because I will have this cover on loop.
On March 27, Beyoncé released Cowboy Carter‘s full tracklist and it features a song titled “Jolene” as well as one called “Dolly P.”
It’s still unclear if Beyoncé sampled or full-on covered Parton’s “Jolene,” but if the news is coming from the writer of “Jolene” herself, I have reason to believe the likelihood of this being true is high.
And it’s looking like these two musical icons have already been in contact with each other. “We’ve kind of sent messages back and forth through the years,” Parton said. “And she and her mother were like fans, and I was always touched that they were fans, and I always thought she was great’”
Dolly Parton is a name everybody is familiar with. Her voice, music, style, and generosity span across generations, so a cover, collab, or sample of “Jolene”is sure to be a hit. She is also one of the biggest names in country music, having paved the way for females in country music. Parton is recognized as a “country legend,” and there’s no surprise why. She’s sold more than 100 million records worldwide, which makes her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She’s an icon and inspiration to many, so it’s not surprising that Beyonce is getting inspiration from her.
Additionally, Parton is vocal about her support for Beyoncé’s entrance to country music. Shortly after releasing “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Beyoncé became the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Parton shared a post to Instagram congratulating Beyoncé on this achievement, while sharing that she’s a fan of Beyoncé’s music.
These worlds intertwining is something I didn’t know I needed.
Parton did not mention anything about this cover being a potential collaboration, but if we get a Dolly Parton feature on Beyoncé’s upcoming album, I will be so unwell.