Dolly Parton’s Welsh Version of ‘Jolene’ Set for Release After Her Death

Dolly Parton’s voice will return in a new version of her iconic song “Jolene”, with parts of the country music legend’s performance sung in Welsh in a recording made before her death.

The previously unreleased collaboration with Welsh singer-songwriter Bronwen Lewis and Parton’s niece, Jada Star, is scheduled to be released on October 9.

Parton recorded her contribution at her studio in Nashville in early 2025, after Lewis translated parts of the song into Welsh and helped her with the pronunciation.

The project began after Lewis, who is from Neath in Wales and speaks Welsh, posted her own Welsh-language version of “Jolene” online about two years ago.

The performance attracted the attention of Parton’s family, leading to contact between Lewis and Jada Star. The two subsequently became friends and performed together in Wales, including at Pride Cymru.

Star eventually suggested making a Welsh version of “Jolene” with her aunt. Lewis said she was overwhelmed when Star told her that Parton wanted to participate.

For Lewis, hearing Parton sing in Welsh was particularly significant because she had long admired the singer and had never expected her online cover to lead to a collaboration with the original artist.

Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80 following what her representatives described as a brief battle with cancer. She died before the planned release of the collaboration and before Lewis was able to meet her in person.

After Parton’s death, Lewis and Star decided to complete the project and release the recording. They said Parton was proud to take part in the Welsh-language performance.

The recording also carries a personal significance because of Parton’s family links to Wales. The singer had previously spoken about her Welsh ancestry through her mother, Avie Lee Owens.

Parton said during a 2008 appearance in Cardiff that some of her mother’s family came from Wales and that visiting the country gave her a sense of familiarity. More recent archival research has suggested that her ancestors may have come from the Machynlleth area rather than Conwy, which had previously been cited.

“Jolene”, originally released in 1973, became one of Parton’s most recognisable songs and has been covered by numerous artists over the decades. The song tells the story of a woman pleading with another woman not to take her partner.

The Welsh recording will become Parton’s second posthumous musical release. Her first, “Bound to Ride”, was released in September and was recorded with the First Ladies of Bluegrass for an upcoming Stanley Brothers tribute album.

Parton had also revealed before her death that she had recorded a song with U2, which is expected to be released in November. Another recording is reportedly being held in a time capsule for planned release in 2046.

With the Welsh version of “Jolene”, Parton’s voice will once again reach audiences after her death, this time through a collaboration that connects one of her best-known songs with her family’s links to Wales.

The single is due to be released on October 9.