Jolene is a 1973 country song written and performed by Dolly Parton. It was released in October 1973 as the lead single and title track from the album Jolene, after being recorded on May 22, 1973 at RCA Studio B in Nashville and produced by Bob Ferguson. The song tells of a narrator who pleads with Jolene, a stunning rival, not to take her lover away, and its meaning is left open to interpretation. Parton has said Jolene was inspired by a red-haired bank clerk who flirted with her husband, and Jolene’s name came from a fan she met on stage. Musically it’s a concise country ballad, about 2 minutes and 42 seconds long. Jolene is regarded as one of the quintessential country songs; Rolling Stone has ranked it among the greatest songs of all time, with a notable progression from 217 in 2004 to a top placement on their 2024 list of the 200 Greatest Country Songs. The tune has inspired many covers, including Olivia Newton-John (1976), the White Stripes (live 2004), Pentatonix with Parton (2016, Grammy-winning), and Beyoncé (2024 with updated lyrics on Cowboy Carter).
