The story of a woman pleading with a rival was sparked by a red-headed bank teller who flirted with Parton's husband, Carl Dean, early in their marriage. Parton has jokingly noted that while the song sounds "dreadful," it was based on an innocent running joke between her and her husband. Chart Performance and Recognition
Parton has stated that "Jolene" is her most-covered song, with artists across all genres putting their own spin on the classic:
"Jolene" became a massive success, solidifying Parton's status as a crossover star: jolene
It reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in February 1974.
Rolling Stone ranked it #1 on its 2024 list of the "200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time" and #63 on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". The story of a woman pleading with a
The name and physical description—"flaming locks of auburn hair" and "eyes of emerald green"—were inspired by a young fan named Jolene who asked for an autograph at a concert.
Parton famously wrote "Jolene" on the same day as her other legendary hit, "I Will Always Love You". Notable Covers Rolling Stone ranked it #1 on its 2024
According to Dolly Parton, the song was born from two distinct real-life encounters: