Is Beyonce Covering Dolly Parton On Her New Album?
Is Beyonce covering Dolly Parton on her upcoming album, Renaissance act ii: Cowboy Carter? Judging by an Instagram post by Bey, containing what appears to be the album’s tracklist, it looks like the answer is “Yes.” There’s a song called “Jolene,” which is, of course, one of Parton’s biggest classics. The tracklist doesn’t have songwriting credits, so it seems likely that Beyonce is covering the song.
“Jolene” is the title track of Dolly’s 1974 album, which turned 50 earlier this year. It’s the same album that also featured “I Will Always Love You,” which was later covered by Whitney Houston. Parton has said in interviews that she wrote both songs in the same day. In a 2008 interview, Parton said that the song was inspired by an attractive red-headed bank teller. “He just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us — when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.'” The song has been covered often, including by legendary rock band the White Stripes.
The theme of the song is similar to some of those on Beyonce’s classic 2016 album, Lemonade, which many fans believe was inspired by Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z’s infidelity. (Coincidentally, Jack White of the White Stripes collaborated with Beyonce on one of the album’s most pointed songs, “Don’t Hurt Yourself.”)
That’s not the only other Dolly Parton reference on Beyonce’s post: there’s also a track called “Dolly P,” as well as one called “Willie Nelson.” Like Beyonce, Nelson is a celebrated Texan. There’s no confirmation that Parton or Nelson are on the album; they may just be song titles inspired by the country icons. There’s no mention of any guests, although some fans believe that Travis Scott is going to be on the album. There have also been rumors that Taylor Swift would appear on the album.
Other titles mentioned in the Instagram post (which had no caption) include the previously released “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” as well as “Ameriican Requiem,” “Blackbird,” “Protector,” “My Rose,” “Bodyguard,” “Daughter,” “Spaghettii,” “Alliigator Tears,” “Smoke Hour II,” “Just For Fun,” “II Most Wanted,” “Levii’s Jeans,” “Flamenco,” “The Linda Martell Show,” “Ya Ya,” “Oh Louisiana,” “Desert Eagle,” “Riiverdance,” “II Hands II Heaven,” “Tyrant,” “Sweet Honey Buckin’,” and “Amen.” The double “i’s” in the song titles are likely a reference to the album being “Renaissance act ii.”
act ii: Cowboy Carter is due out this Friday, March 29.
