Dolly Parton’s Jolene was born from a real-life “crush” involving her husband, Carl Dean. A flirtatious red-haired bank teller caught Carl’s attention, sparking the jealousy that inspired the now-iconic song. While the lyrics plead with Jolene to stay away, Dolly insists it was written playfully, not bitterly. Decades later, fans still debate whether it’s a desperate plea or a sly warning.
Dolly Parton’s signature hit Jolene was inspired by a stunning bank teller who had been partial to her spouse Carl Dean, who died Monday at the age of 83.
The 78-year-old music legend made the revelation about the track, which came out in October of 1973, while in concert at the Glastonbury Festival 2014.
The Pittman Center, Tennessee-born icon explained to the crowd of how the tune came to be creatively, The Independent reported at the time.
After performing the song – which has been covered by Beyoncé and a host of other artists – Parton told the crowd, ‘Now, some of you may or may not know that that song was loosely based on a little bit of truth.’
‘I wrote that years ago when my husband … was spending a little more time with Jolene than I thought he should be.’
After the crowd booed at the news of Dean’s roving eye, Parton reassured the fans she ‘put a stop to that’ and ‘got rid of that redhead woman in a hurry,’ spurring cheers from the crowd.
Dolly Parton’s signature hit Jolene was inspired by a lady who had been partial to her spouse Carl Dean, who died Monday at the age of 83. Pictured in England in 2014
The 78-year-old music legend made the revelation about the track, which came out in October of 1973, while in concert at the Glastonbury Festival 2014
Parton told the audience that channeling her emotions from the uncomfortable situation into a Grammy-winning song ultimately made her very wealthy.
‘I want you folks to know, though, that something good can come from anything,’ Parton said. ‘Had it not been for that woman I would never have written Jolene and I wouldn’t have made all that money, so thank you, Jolene.’
Speaking with NPR in a 2008 chat, Parton said that the woman who inspired the track had ‘this terrible crush on [her] husband.’
She added, ‘And 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.” So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.’
Parton told NPR about the physical characteristics the woman displayed and how they differed from her own.
‘She had everything I didn’t, like legs,’ Parton said. ‘You know, she was about 6 feet tall.
‘So no matter how beautiful a woman might be, you’re always threatened by certain… You’re always threatened by other women, period.’
While the emotions brought about by the bank teller made for the creative backbone of the hit song, Parton said the name Jolene itself was from a young fan who attended one of her concerts.
Parton’s spouse Carl Dean died Monday at the age of 83. Pictured in 2019 in Brentwood, Tennessee
Parton said in a statement about her late spouse on Monday, ‘Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy’
‘One night, I was on stage, and there was this beautiful little girl – she was probably 8 years old at the time,’ she told the outlet. ‘And she had this beautiful red hair, this beautiful skin, these beautiful green eyes, and she was looking up at me, holding, you know, for an autograph.
‘I said, “Well, you’re the prettiest little thing I ever saw. So what is your name?” And she said, “Jolene.”
Parton added, ‘And I said, “Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.” I said, “That is pretty. That sounds like a song. I’m going to write a song about that.”‘
Parton’s publicist told the AP in a statement Monday that Dean passed away Nashville, Tennessee, and that his funeral will be a private ceremony restricted to relatives.
Parton said in a statement about her late spouse on Monday, ‘Carl and I spent many wonderful years together.
‘Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.’
