Dolly Parton's legendary song Jolene was based on a true story about a woman who was competing for the attention of Carl Dean, who later became Dolly's husband. The woman in question wasn't actually called Jolene.
The country star, 80, has died, her nephew Bryan confirmed in a social media post. Her death comes a year after her late husband Carl died aged 82, after almost six decades of marriage. He died in Nashville, where the couple always lived, and was laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by immediate family.
How Dolly discovered the inspiration
Dolly and Carl chose to keep their love life very private, yet the singer shared insights through her songs, especially her biggest hit Jolene. She revealed the iconic song is about a real-life girl and was written on the same day as her other mega hit I Will Always Love You.
The music legend long spoke about Jolene being based on a true story, but several years ago she gave more backstory on what really went down. Dolly became suspicious of Carl when she noticed he was visiting the bank more often than he needed to.
"Her name was not Jolene, but she was working at the bank, and she was this beautiful girl," Dolly told Access. "And that was bad enough, that he was having to go to the bank as much as he was going. And I kept thinking, we ain't got that kinda money, not yet anyway. He was in asphalt paving, he and his father, and I said, 'Why are you having to talk to her all the time?'"
Dolly's jealousy and the song's creation
Carl tried to reassure Dolly there was nothing more to it, but she wanted to know why he couldn't speak to anyone else at the bank. She recalled: "And I said, 'Look, you better be talkin' to one of those boys, or it's gonna be your ** and your fault! So there's your asphalt.'"
Decades later, Dolly came to the realisation Jolene may not have been as bad as she first seemed. "But I was just jealous, 'cuz she was prettier than me and I think I just felt threatened," she confessed. "He didn't have a thing going with her, but he was flirtin'. But I'm a flirt, too. Anyways, I thought, this makes a great idea for a song. So I wrote it."
However, Dolly once shared she actually "fought Jolene like a wildcat" after she tore her wig off. Speaking on her Dolly variety show, she shared: "Now this is a true story for those of you that don't know. I wrote this song about 20 years ago about this woman down in Nashville, that worked at the bank. She was trying to take care of my husband while I was out on the road.
"Well that didn't go over too big with me, I fought that red-headed woman like a wildcat. She jerked my wig off and almost beat me to death with it. But I kept my husband, I got that sucker home and I beat the tar out of him."
Tribute from nephew
Today, Dolly's nephew, Bryan Seaver, took to Instagram to pay tribute to the country legend and said that she had been welcomed by "the arms of Jesus". As he shared the devastating news, he said it was an "honour" – and it also came with "great sadness."
In his video, Bryan said: "Hey everyone, my name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean. Sister, sis, Aunt Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.
"This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment, but haven't truly felt it until now."
