Dolly Parton was surprised Beyoncé changed Jolene lyrics

Virgin Radio

3 Jun 2024, 11:19

Country queen Dolly Parton reveals shock at Beyoncé's lyric change without warning.

Hold on to your cowboy hats, folks! The queen of country music, Dolly Parton, has revealed that Beyoncé gave her classic hit Jolene a makeover without so much as a heads-up!

If you weren't aware (and how could you not be?), the pop powerhouse changed the lyrics to the 1973 anthem, and Dolly only found out when she hit play. Yeehaw, what a surprise!

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Beyoncé’s latest album, Cowboy Carter, features a country-inspired twist that includes a cover of Dolly’s beloved Jolene.

However, Queen Bey didn’t just sing it, she transformed it, much to the shock of our rhinestone-clad legend. Dolly opened up about this unexpected remix during a chat with E! News.

“When they said she was gonna do Jolene, I expected it to be my regular one, but it wasn’t,” Dolly exclaimed.

And boy, was she in for a surprise. Beyoncé swapped out the iconic line: “I’m begging of you please don’t take my man,” for a sassy: “I’m warning you, don’t come for my man.” Bold move, Bey!

Parton, known for her graciousness and charm, described the change as 'bold.'

She added: “But I love what she did to it. And as a songwriter, you love the fact that people do your songs no matter how they do them.”

That’s the Dolly we know and love – always finding the silver lining, even when life gives her a Beyoncé remix instead of lemonade.

In an intriguing twist, Dolly was asked to introduce the track on Beyoncé’s record, despite not knowing about the lyrical changes.

In her signature style, she delivered a cheeky intro: “Hey, miss Honey Bey. It’s Dolly P. You know that hussy with the good hair you sang about?

"Reminded me of someone I knew back when. Except she has flaming locks of auburn hair. Bless her heart. Just a hair of a different colour, but it hurts just the same.”

This nod to Beyoncé’s infamous 'Becky with the good hair' line from her 2016 album Lemonade had fans buzzing.

For those not in the know, the line from Sorry is widely believed to address a woman Jay-Z was rumoured to have had an affair with.

“Today I regret the night I put that ring on,” Beyoncé sings, dropping the mic with, “He better call Becky with the good hair.”

As for the Cowboy Carter album, it’s been a mixed bag of feedback. While some fans have hailed Beyoncé’s venture into country as a breath of fresh air, others are less convinced, particularly by the reimagined Jolene.

Social media has been ablaze with debates, and critics have had their say, but one thing is clear: Beyoncé knows how to get people talking.

Dolly’s songs have always been ripe for reinterpretation.

From Whitney Houston’s iconic cover of I Will Always Love You to Miley Cyrus belting out Jolene, Dolly’s music transcends genres and generations.

Beyoncé’s bold new take is just the latest chapter in this ongoing legacy.