"Jolene" became a massive success, solidifying Parton's status as a crossover star:
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. jolene
It reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in February 1974. This haunting ballad, written and recorded at RCA
Dolly Parton's "Jolene," released in , is one of the most celebrated and covered songs in music history. This haunting ballad, written and recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, serves as the title track of her thirteenth solo album. The Real-Life Inspiration Notable Covers
According to Dolly Parton, the song was born from two distinct real-life encounters:
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".
Parton famously wrote "Jolene" on the same day as her other legendary hit, "I Will Always Love You". Notable Covers