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Countless singers have covered “Jolene,” the iconic song Dolly Parton released in 1974, begging a woman with flaming locks of auburn hair and a smile like the breath of spring not to take her man (just because she can).
Although Parton has said she loves all of the covers she’s heard of her hit song, there’s one cover she has yet to hear. Parton and bestselling author James Patterson appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to talk about the unique collaboration as they co-authored a “thrilling” book inspired by Nashville’s music industry. The duo published Run, Rose, Run on Monday (March 7), and released Parton’s accompanying album of the same name on March 4. While speaking about their latest projects, host Trevor Noah asked Parton about the artist she wishes would cover one of her most legendary songs.
“…It’s crazy that you have wishes that haven’t been fulfilled in life yet,” Noah told his very-accomplished guest. “But I know one of your wishes is you’ve said that you wish that Beyoncé would cover ‘Jolene.’ There are over 400 renditions of ‘Jolene,’ multiple different languages, people have done it, and you said you specifically want Beyoncé to do that. Are there any updates? …And why Beyoncé?”
That’s when Parton gushed over the award-winning singer-songwriter, raving that it would be “killer” to hear Queen Bey perform her own spin of “Jolene.” Parton even compared her to one of the biggest artists of all time, Whitney Houston, who famously released her own take on Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” Unfortunately, though, Parton said she has no updates on a rendition of “Jolene” by Beyoncé. She told Noah:
“No! I don’t know if she’s even got the message. But wouldn’t that be killer? I think she’s fantastic and beautiful and I love her music. I would just love to hear ‘Jolene’ done in just a big way, kind of like how Whitney did my ‘I Will Always Love You,’ to someone that can take my little songs and make ‘em like powerhouses. So, that would be a marvelous day in my life if she ever does do ‘Jolene.’”
Parton and Patterson also delved into their experience co-authoring Run, Rose, Run, Parton’s inspiration to establish her Imagination Library, and striving to be on the right side of history by seeking the good in others. Watch Parton and Patterson speak with Noah — including the country icon’s praise for Beyoncé — here: