A Welsh version of Dolly Parton's hit song Jolene, recorded before her death, will be released on Friday, October 9. The collaboration features Parton alongside Welsh singer Bronwen Lewis and Parton's niece, Jada Star.
Lewis, a BBC Radio Wales presenter, first shared her Welsh translation of the song two years ago. The video went viral and caught the attention of Parton's niece, Jada Star, who said: "This video went viral, and it was of this beautiful Welsh singer-songwriter singing her version of Jolene that she had translated into Welsh. Well, that started circulating among my cousins. My cousin Rebecca sent it to me, and we just fell in love with Bronwen, so we reached out."
From viral cover to family friendship
Lewis said: "I definitely didn't expect it to attract the attention of Dolly Parton's family." She added: "I was just so happy to know that people so close to Dolly loved what I did, and I've been a Dolly Parton fan all my life. A friendship with Jada followed, and she came over to Wales to visit me, and we performed at Pride together."
It was after their Pride Cymru performance that Jada appeared on Lewis's radio show and asked if they would like to record Jolene together. Lewis said: "I just felt very strongly connected to the Parton family through Jada."
Parton's final recording in Nashville
Lewis recounted the moment Jada told her that Parton wanted to sing on the track: "I couldn't quite believe it. I think I dropped to the floor, I started crying, I felt all the emotions. I called my mother immediately because she's just as much a Dolly fan as I am. And I just couldn't believe that Dolly Parton wanted to sing with me."
Parton recorded her parts in a Nashville studio. Lewis said: "We were thrilled, absolutely thrilled, to hear Dolly sing in another language and in Welsh for the very first time was just unbelievable."
Parton had previously told WalesOnline: "Some of my mother's people, the Owens, are from there (Wales). I've been there about three times and it always feels good because it feels like family... Many years ago we took a little tour there because some of my mother's people are from Wales."
Release after Parton's passing
Parton died at age 80 in August 2026, before Lewis could travel to meet her. Jada said: "Well, the news was devastating, not just for myself and my family, but for the entire world."
Lewis added: "We grieved. We held each other close. And then Jada and I sort of stood up and realized the fact that what a privilege to collaborate and to record with one of the greatest musicians of all time, and one of the greatest women to ever grace this earth."
Despite the loss, the pair decided to finish the work. Jada said: "We did what she always told us to do, which was pull ourselves together and get ourselves back to work and finish what we started."
In a message shared from Parton ahead of her passing, she said to Jada: "Great job on Jolene and Bronwen did a great job and I did my best, ha! Anyway, I love the artwork too. Bryan did good with my Strawberry Margarita Nail polish colour. Good job all around. I understand that we're not going to be able to do some of the things we had planned in September, Danny had mentioned but you carry on and do what you're doing because you're doing great. I love you, Granny."
Jada said: "I know in my heart that she's keeping an eye on all of us down here, and I really hope that you enjoy our song as much as we enjoyed making it." Lewis added: "And gosh, she was proud to sing in Welsh."
