Dolly Parton's "Jolene" Gets a Welsh Rendition in Posthumous Release

A new version of Dolly Parton's iconic song "Jolene," featuring the artist singing in Welsh, is slated for release on October 9. The recording was made before Parton's death on August 25 and is a collaboration with Welsh singer-songwriter Bronwen Lewis and Parton's niece, Jada Star. This marks Parton's second posthumous release.

The project originated when Lewis, a native Welsh speaker, posted a video of herself singing "Jolene" in Welsh two years ago. The video gained viral traction and caught the attention of Parton's family, particularly Jada Star.

"Two years ago I posted a video of me singing the Dolly Parton classic Jolene in Welsh," Lewis said. "I never expected it would go viral and definitely didn't expect it to attract the attention of Dolly's family - especially her niece Jada."

Star traveled from Nashville to Wales to meet Lewis, forging a friendship that led to the recording. "Pride Cymru was such an amazing experience and I learned so much about my family lineage," Star commented. "I cherish the time I spent with Bronwen exploring one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen."

Star proposed the idea of recording "Jolene" in Welsh, a suggestion Lewis eagerly embraced. Star then invited her aunt to participate. "Jada told me that her Aunt Dolly would like to sing with us on our version of Jolene. I think I fell to the ground," Lewis recalled. "Definitely cried happy tears, and called my mother immediately."

Parton recorded her vocals at her Nashville studio in early 2025 after familiarizing herself with the phonetics of Lewis' translation. Lewis stated that Parton was "proud" to sing in Welsh, noting the singer's own Welsh ancestry, which is believed to trace back to Machynlleth.

"It was devastating, not just for myself and our family, but for the entire world," Star said of Parton's passing. Lewis added, "We did what she always told us to do. We got ourselves together and decided to finish what we started."

Parton had a prolific career spanning seven decades, earning 10 Grammy awards, selling over 100 million records worldwide, and writing more than 3,000 songs. She had previously explored international collaborations, including songs in Latin and a 2011 track with an Irish folk band. A collaboration with U2 is also anticipated for release in November, and another song is scheduled for release in 2046 from a time capsule.

Parton's connection to Wales was publicly acknowledged in 2008 when she mentioned her Welsh ancestry during a concert. In 2025, a documentary is set to explore her Welsh heritage further. Parton's mother's family, the Owens, were believed to have originated from Conwy, though recent research suggests Machynlleth as a more likely origin.