DOLLY PARTON: “JOLENE” – A LETTER TO ANOTHER WOMAN
“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene… I’m begging of you, please don’t take my man.”
With that haunting plea, Dolly Parton turned jealousy into poetry — and created one of the most iconic songs in country music history.
When Jealousy Turned into Art
Released in 1973, “Jolene” was believed to be a fictional story. But years later, Dolly revealed the truth: Jolene was a real woman — a bank clerk who flirted with her husband, Carl Dean. Instead of confronting her rival, Dolly went home and poured her emotions into a song.
“I knew I couldn’t fight anger with anger,” she said. “So I wrote her a song — hoping she’d understand my fear.”
“Jolene” became more than a song about jealousy — it was a confession of love, fear, and grace.
The Name That Came From a Child
Few people know that the name “Jolene” came from an eight-year-old fan who once asked for Dolly’s autograph after a show. Dolly adored the sound of the name and promised the girl:
“I’ll write a song for you someday.”
Months later, when she found herself in a moment of insecurity, that name resurfaced. And thus, “Jolene” was born — blending the innocence of a child’s name with the vulnerability of a woman in love.
A Song Without a Villain
Dolly never blamed Jolene. In her trembling voice, there’s no anger — only the quiet sorrow of a woman afraid to lose what she loves most. Jolene isn’t the villain. She represents the fragile fear that love can slip away — even from the strongest hearts. That empathy turned “Jolene” into one of the most compassionate songs ever written.
From Nashville to Eternity
Upon release, “Jolene” topped the Billboard Country chart and became the most-covered song of Dolly’s career.
Artists like Miley Cyrus, The White Stripes, and Olivia Newton-John have reimagined it — yet the soul of Dolly’s version remains unmatched.
On stage, Dolly often introduces it with a playful smile:
“I don’t know where Jolene is now, but I hope she’s happy — and still leaving my husband alone.”
The audience laughs, but in that laughter hides a quiet truth:
Everyone, at some point, has had their own “Jolene.”