Dolly Parton's niece, country singer Jada Star, has expressed a strong desire to learn Welsh after collaborating on a Welsh-language version of her late aunt's hit song, "Jolene." Star, who hails from Tennessee, recorded the track with Welsh singer Bronwen Lewis prior to Parton's death on August 25.
"I truly believe anyone can speak Welsh; it's such a lovely feeling to speak the language, it's a comfortable language," Star stated. She hopes to one day "roam every inch of Wales" and potentially attend the Eisteddfod, a festival celebrating Welsh culture and language.
Star began her Welsh language journey using Duolingo, finding joy in learning words like "Draig" (dragon) and "Pilipala" (butterfly). She mentioned that her initial Welsh phrases were "shwmae" and "diolch," meaning hello and thank you, allowing her to greet people in Welsh. Star recounted her experience learning Welsh during a visit to Wales with Lewis, noting that the language app creates sentences in a "beautiful way."
The collaboration between Star and Lewis began after Star saw a TikTok video of Lewis singing "Jolene" in Welsh. This led Star to travel to Wales, visiting locations such as Cardiff, Caernarfon, and Conwy, while actively practicing her Welsh. Lewis described Star's enthusiasm for the language as heartening, especially since many Welsh artists do not release music in their native tongue.
Star recorded her parts in Southampton, while Parton contributed her vocals from her studio in Nashville. The release of the Welsh version of "Jolene" has garnered positive reactions on both sides of the Atlantic. Star expressed pride in the track, noting the emotional impact of messages received from Wales and her belief that the unique rendition has been well-received.
