Dolly Parton gets honest about Beyoncé’s version of her song, “Jolene.”
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In a new interview with E! News, Dolly Parton admitted she was stunned when she heard Beyoncé’s version of her hit song, “Jolene.”
According to Parton, she knew Beyoncé was going to cover her song for her new album “Cowboy Carter.”However, what she didn’t know was that Beyoncé had plans to change the original lyrics of her beloved track.
“Well, I think it was very bold of her,” Parton told E! News. “When they said she was gonna do ‘Jolene,’ I expected it to be my regular one, but it wasn’t.”
Nonetheless, Parton says despite being surprised, she “loves what she did to it. (…) You love the fact that people do your songs no matter how they do them.”
In fact, Parton told E! that she loved the confidence Beyoncé brought to the song with her new lyrics.
Dolly Parton gets honest about Beyoncé’s version of her song ‘Jolene.’ Shutterstock
In Dolly’s version, the iconic lyrics read:
“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. I’m beggin’ you, please don’t take my man.”
In Beyoncé version, she sings:
“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man.”
In Dolly’s version, she sings:
“Your beauty is beyond compare. With flaming locks of auburn hair. With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green. Your smile is like a breath of spring. Your voice is soft like summer rain. And I cannot compete with you, Jolene.”
While Beyoncé asserts her dominance:
“You’re beautiful beyond compare. Takes more than beauty and seductive stares. To come between a family and a happy man. Jolene, I’m a woman too. The games you play are nothing new. So you don’t want no heat with me, Jolene.”
“She wasn’t gonna go beg some other woman like I did,” Parton boasted of Beyoncé’s take.
Parton admitted that she was so empowered by Beyoncé’s rewrite that she may just have to re-record her version as well.
Since the song was recorded, Parton and Beyoncé’s relationship has grown. She told E! that they have sent flowers and love notes back and forth over the last several months.
So if you’re hoping for a potential Dolly/Beyoncé match-up, Parton admits she is as well.
