Music stars of all stripes have paid tribute to the great Dolly Parton by covering "Jolene."
Videos by Wide Open Country
The popular 1973 hit is about someone pleading with the titular woman not to take him away because she can. It is considered by many to be one of the greatest country songs of all time. However, Parton once said she didn't perform it much because the song is actually based on a true story.
"I wrote this song ... about this woman down in Nashville that worked at the bank," the singer explains in the clip. "She was trying to take care of my husband while I was out on the road. That didn't go over too big with me. I fought that red-headed woman like a wildcat. She jerked my wig off and almost beat me to death with it, but I kept my husband."
We're not sure how true the part about the wig is, but we definitely believe the next part of the story.
"I got that sucker home and beat the tar out of him."
It Seems Like Everyone Has Covered "Jolene"
While Parton may not perform "Jolene" as often as we would like, plenty of other artists have picked up the slack. Everyone from Olivia Newton-John, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, and even Beyoncé has performed the iconic track, each putting their own little spin on it.
We can now add Carly Pearce to that long list of performers. The 35-year-old singer paid tribute to one of her musical heroes as part of the Grand Ole Opry's centennial extravaganza, titled Opry 100: A Live Celebration. She even had the honor of singing it through the Grand Ole Opry's new microphone stand dedicated to Parton. It was unveiled in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Nashville-based program.
Is Carly Pearce's Version of "Jolene" One of the Best?
Time will tell if Pearce's rousing version of "Jolene" can stand tall next to the original, but we like its chances.
According to Billboard, Parton has said that Mindy Smith's folk cover of "Jolene" is her favorite version of the song. We're hoping that the "9 to 5" singer can find some room in her heart for the Kentucky-born singer's take.
