Songfacts®:

• Dolly Parton's "Jolene" is a classic country tearjerker, right up there with a lost dog and a tumbleweed. But Beyoncé took that song and gave it a good Texas two-step right into the danger zone for her Country Carter album. Same basic melody, mind you, like the dusty wallpaper in your grandma's house – comforting, familiar. But the lyrics? Oh boy, the lyrics get a whole new coat of paint.
  
  The story's the same, some Jezebel named Jolene setting her sights on another woman's fella. But in Dolly's version, it's all pleading and handwringing. "Jolene, Jolene, please don't take my man," she sings, like a magnolia wilting in the midday sun.
  
  Beyoncé, on the other hand, has no time for that. She knows what Jolene's game is, and she's ready to meet fire with gasoline. "Jolene, Jolene," she warns, "don't come for my man." No begging, no pleading, just a flat-out declaration. This Jolene better hightail it out of Dodge before Beyoncé puts on her boots.
• Remember Beyoncé's fiery Lemonade, that visual album where she poured her heart out Jay-Z's infidelity? Her "Jolene" cover is a continuation of that saga.
  
  But Beyoncé's version of "Jolene" also reveals a deep, enduring love between the "Texas Hold 'Em" star and her husband. She sings about weathering storms together:
  
  Me and my man crossed those valleys
  Highs and lows and everything between
  Good deeds roll in like tumblin' weeds
  I sleep good, happy
  
  Sounds like a love that's been through the wringer and came out stronger.
• Beyoncé throws in an all-male choir for the bridge and outro. These fellas belt out a declaration of unwavering loyalty: "I'ma stand by her, she will stand by me, Jolene," they proclaim, just in case Jolene (or anyone else) had any funny ideas.
• Before Beyoncé tackles "Jolene" on Cowboy Carter, there's a spoken-word interlude titled "Dolly P" where Dolly addresses Beyoncé directly.
  
  Hey Miss Honeybee, it's Dolly P
  You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about?
  Reminded me of someone I knew back when
  Except she has flamin' locks of auburn hair
  
  Dolly is referencing Beyoncé's Lemonade song "Sorry" and its famous line "Becky with the good hair."
  
  Dolly returns later on in the album with an intro to "Tyrant."
• While Beyoncé included several re-worked lyrics in her version of the "Jolene," the writing credits credit solely Parton. Beyoncé is credited as the co-producer with Khirye Tyler and Jack Ro.
  
  The producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Khirye Tyler worked as a musical director for Khalid and Alicia Keys before playing keyboards and contributing arrangements on Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour. Tyler co-produced seven tracks in total on Cowboy Carter.
  
  Jack "Ro" Rochon is a Canadian producer, songwriter and classically trained multi-instrumentalist. "Jolene" is one of four Cowboy Carter tracks he contributed to.
• Stevie Wonder played the harmonica on Beyoncé's cover of "Jolene." Bey herself revealed this information during her acceptance speech for the Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on April 1, 2024. While presenting the award, Wonder introduced Beyoncé and even called her a "trailblazer." In her acceptance speech, Beyoncé thanked the Motown great for not only the award but also for "playing the harmonica on 'Jolene.'"
• While Dolly Parton's "Jolene" topped the US Country chart, it only reached #60 on the Hot 100 chart. Beyoncé's rendition of "Jolene" debuted at # 7 on the Hot 100, becoming the first version of the heavily covered song to crack the Top 10.
• Beyoncé overdelivered her halftime performance in Houston during the 2024 Christmas Day game between the Ravens and Texans, where she performed songs from the Cowboy Carter album for the first time. During "Jolene," the marching band that was backing her got to showcase their skills, offering the crowd a respite from the drubbing their team was taking.