A 2018 review by rapper Stormzy of Dolly Parton's hit song "Jolene" has gained renewed attention following the country music icon's death at the age of 80. Parton died Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer.
Stormzy shared his thoughts on the 1973 track, which tells the story of a woman pleading with another named Jolene not to take her man. He posted on Twitter at the time, "Nah Dolly Parton was spitting some real pain on Jolene... And Jolene sounds like she's the baddest b to ever walk this planet... She is BEGGING Jolene not to take her man you know." He added, "Kinda sad actually, wish Dolly had more self-love and confidence or the strength to just leave my man cah it ain't really Jolene's fault... But then again Jolene knows exactly what she's doing the lil jezzy."
The rapper's commentary touched on definitions from Urban Dictionary, where "Bad B" is described as a confident, independent, and attractive woman, and "Jezzy" as a vulgar term for a sexually promiscuous woman.
The resurgence of Stormzy's review comes as Parton's music has seen a surge in the charts. "Jolene" is currently positioned at number two, while her 1980 hit "9 To 5" is on course for its first ever UK number one.
Parton often addressed speculation about the inspiration behind "Jolene." She explained that the song was about a bank teller who flirted with her husband, Carl Dean. The name "Jolene" itself was inspired by a fan. "Carl was spending a little too much time with this woman, I noticed it, I put a stop to it, and then I turned the whole thing into a song," Parton had said. She clarified, "I wasn't actually begging a woman named Jolene to leave my husband alone. A real woman flirted with my husband and made me jealous enough to write the story... Then I happened to meet a little girl named Jolene, loved the name, and put that name on the character."
Parton, who won 11 Grammy Awards during her six-decade career, had a significant impact on the music industry. Tributes poured in from fellow artists after her death, with Taylor Swift describing her as having "true grace and true grit." Beyoncé called Parton "the barometer" and "the north star," while Miley Cyrus referred to her godmother as an "angel by my side."