BAD WOLVES released its version of “Jolene” Aug. 31 in memory of DOLLY PARTON, bringing an unexpected collaboration to a bittersweet conclusion.
Before her death, Parton had heard the band’s heavy reworking of her signature song, approved the arrangement, and planned to add her own vocals to the recording.
“Our singer is a big fan of Dolly and has posted a bunch of videos of her covering ‘Jolene.’ So, we decided to make a rock cover version for our next album,” says Bad Wolves founder, drummer, and songwriter John Boecklin. “On hearing our version, our label CEO, Dan Waite, sent the finished record to Dolly’s manager, Danny Nozell, with a request for Dolly to guest feature on our version. We heard back that Danny had played the track to Dolly, and that Dolly loved our version, and that Dolly was going to go into the studio and add her vocals very soon.”
Parton’s longtime manager, Danny Nozell, confirmed that account while addressing misinformation that had circulated online following news of the tribute.
“Dolly was a champion of artists pushing musical boundaries. She listened to the Bad Wolves arrangement of ‘Jolene’ weeks ago, gave it her full blessing, and was incredibly excited to collaborate on it. Releasing this track on Monday as a tribute — with proceeds directly supporting her beloved Imagination Library — is exactly what Dolly and her team wanted.”
The circumstances echo another defining moment in Bad Wolves’ history. In 2018, THE CRANBERRIES vocalist DOLORES O’RIORDAN died shortly before she was scheduled to record vocals for the band’s cover of “Zombie.” Bad Wolves ultimately released the song and donated proceeds to O’Riordan’s children.
Her husband and manager, Don Burton, says the band and Better Noise Music followed through on that pledge, eventually providing the family with hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“The similarities here with Dolly Parton loving Bad Wolves’ version of Jolene, and sadly passing before recording, are tragic, but once again the Bad Wolves have agreed to donate their proceeds to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and based on the Zombie track record, this could provide a lot of books for young children around the world.”
Bad Wolves will donate proceeds from “Jolene” to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the literacy program she founded to provide free books to young children.
“We will honor Dolly’s incredible legacy by donating proceeds from ‘Jolene’ to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,” Boecklin says. “We know that we can contribute to Dolly’s vision of giving access to books and improving literacy.”
“Jolene” is available now via Better Noise Music.
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