Queen Bey remaking Dolly Parton’s classic country song has been rumored since February. Dolly Parton, 78, hinted that Beyonce may have recorded a version of her classic “Jolene” for her country debut.
Parton told the Knox News on Sunday: “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 that. I love her! She’s a beautiful girl and a great singer.”
“Jolene” was originally written and performed by Parton in 1973. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the song #62 on it’s list of the “Greatest Songs of All Time.” The the song was inspired by a red-headed bank clerk who flirted with Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, at his local bank while newlyweds.
Parton added that Beyonce and her mother, Tina Knowles, are fans.
“We’ve kind of sent messages back and forth through the years,” she 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.”
Beyonce’s crossover into country music has been met with mixed reviews. Dolly Parton was one of the many legends to embrace the megastar’s arrival. “A lot of people don’t realize Beyonce is a country girl. She’s from Texas,” said Parton. “I think we belong wherever we can do good, and her song is number one across every chart in the whole world, I think. So, I mean, who can argue with that?”
Parton made history last week with her debut rap song, “Powerful Women,” a collaboration with Pitbull, which charted at #4 on Billboard.
Act II, Beyonce’s eighth album and country music debut, will be released on March 29 via Columbia Records. The new album will include Beyonce’s chart-topping new songs “Texas Hold’Em” and “16 Carriages.”