Jolene

Lore & Background

The song tells of the narrator confronting Jolene, a stunningly beautiful woman, who she worries will steal away her lover or husband. Throughout the song, the narrator implores Jolene, 'Please don't take him just because you can.' The lyrics state the narrator's partner is fixated on Jolene and speaks her name in his sleep, but it is unclear if Jolene actually intends to steal the narrator's lover, an ambiguity that has been addressed in several answer songs. Onstage in 1988, Parton told the audience that 'Jolene' was based on a true story, which was why she did not like to sing it too often. A red-headed bank clerk used to flirt with her husband, Carl Dean, at his local bank branch when they were newly married, she has said. In an interview, she also revealed that Jolene's name and appearance (red hair, green eyes, and fair skin) are based on those of a young fan who came on stage for her autograph. This fan may have been Juline Whelan, a Canadian who met and got an autograph from Parton at age 10 in 1972; her appearance was as described, and her first name has often been confused with Jolene. Parton sang 'Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene' to remember the name, which is how it became the chorus. The guitar parts on the recording were performed by Chip Young and Wayne Moss. Young played the primary thumb-picked part, with Moss playing the complementary steel-string part that enters on the second refrain. Young got the fingerpicking pattern from a similar pattern played by Joe South. During an interview on The Bobby Bones Show in 2018, Dolly Parton revealed that she wrote 'Jolene' on the same day that she wrote 'I Will Always Love You'. Parton said in a later interview the songs were written 'pretty close at the same time' but not necessarily on the same day.

Reader's Guide

Jolene is considered by music critics to be one of the most expressive songs in the country genre. In 2014, Rolling Stone ranked the song number nine on their 2014 list '100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time'. The song was also ranked number 217 on Rolling Stone's list of the '500 Greatest Songs of All Time' in 2004, and number 63 on their revised list in 2021. In a 2024 update, Rolling Stone expanded their ranking to the 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time, this time placing 'Jolene' at number one. Genius placed the song 38th on their list of the '100 Best Country Songs of All Time Lyrics'. Time includes the song on their 2011 list of the 'ALL-TIME 100 Best Songs'. Time Out ranked the song at second place on their list of the '35 best country songs of all time'. Parade placed the song second on their list of the '101 Best Country Songs of All Time'. The Tennessean includes the song on their 2019 list of the '100 best country songs of all time', writing that it 'crosses genre and generations, a once-in-a-world song without boundaries'. NME includes the song on their 2018 list of 'The 25 Best Country Music Songs of All Time'. In June 2026, CBS News included the song in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years. The song's international popularity became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the New Zealand government put the country in lockdown. A newspaper summary of 'essential things to know' explained that washing one's hands with soap should take 'as long as it takes to sing the 'Happy Birthday' song twice or the chorus of Dolly Parton's hit song 'Jolene.'' According to Parton, 'Jolene' is her most frequently covered song. Parton sang 'Jolene' at her 2022 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Did You Know?

• The song was nominated for the Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance twice, in 1975 and 1976.
• A 2016 version by Pentatonix won the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
• In 2024, Beyoncé covered the song with significant changes in lyrics and production; her version reached the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Chart.
• Following Parton's death, the song re-entered the music charts and broke the record for most simultaneous tracks in the top 30 on U.S. iTunes.