Dolly Parton has broken her silence after the singer Beyoncé covered her classic song “Jolene” on her new country music album “Cowboy Carter,” which dropped today.
Parton Responds To Beyoncé Covering ‘Jolene’
Entertainment Tonight reported that fans were stunned when the “Cowboy Carter” tracklist included a version of “Jolene,” and Parton was quick to respond.
“Listen to my original ‘Jolene’ while you wait for @Beyonce’s COWBOY CARTER – Dolly P,” Parton, 78, wrote on social media on Wednesday night. She posted this beside a photo of Beyoncé’s newly released tracklist poster alongside her own artwork for the original 1974 release of “Jolene.”
Beyoncé even included Parton in her version of “Jolene,” as the country music legend delivered a spoken word intro to the song on the album.
“Hey Miss Honey B, it’s Dolly P,” Parton can be heard saying on the track.
“You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about?” she continues, referring to the infamous man-stealing “Becky” from Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” song “Sorry.”
“Reminding me of someone I knew back when/Except she has flamin’ locks of auburn hair … Just a hair of a different color, but it hurts just the same,” Parton adds.
Check out Beyoncé’s version of “Jolene” in the video below.
Related: Dolly Parton Drops Bomb – Reveals Beyoncé Has Recorded ‘Jolene’ Cover
Parton Defends Beyoncé
While this was the first time that Parton had spoken out since it was confirmed that Beyoncé had covered “Jolene,” the country music legend had previously addressed speculation about her doing the song.
“Well, I think she has!” Parton previously said, according to Billboard. “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 added. “She’s a beautiful girl and a great singer. We’ve kind of sent messages back and forth through the years. And she and her mother were like fans, and I was always touched that they were fans, and I always thought she was great.”
Parton went on to defend Beyoncé from backlash that she’s gotten for releasing a country album.
“A lot of people don’t realize Beyoncé is a country girl. She’s from Texas,” she said, according to AOL. “I think we belong wherever we can do good, and her song is No. 1 across every chart in the whole world, I think. So, I mean, who can argue with that?”
Last month, Parton praised Beyoncé after her song “Texas Hold ‘Em” hit number one on the Billboard Hot Country chart.
“I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album,” Parton said in a statement posted to her Instagram. “So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single. Can’t wait to hear the full album!”
Related: Dolly Parton Praises Beyoncé For Hit Country Song – ‘I’m A Big Fan’
John Schneider Slams Beyoncé
This came after the former “Dukes Of Hazzard” star John Schneider went so far as to compare Beyoncé to a urinating dog in response to her new country album.
“The lefties in the entertainment industry just won’t leave any area alone, right?” Schneider was asked in a recent interview, according to Daily Mail. “They just have to seize control over every aspect, don’t they?”
“They’ve got to make their mark, just like a dog in a dog walk park. You know, every dog has to mark every tree, right? So that’s what’s going on here,” Schneider replied.
Beyoncé can cover “Jolene” all that she wants to, but nothing can ever compare to Parton’s original. In the end, this just goes to show once again that Parton is often imitated, but never replicated!
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