Sounds like Dolly is getting her wish.
Beyoncé set the music world on fire when she dropped two new songs during the Super Bowl, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” as well as a Western-themed teaser video.
And while she didn’t officially announce that her upcoming album, Renaissance: Act II, would be a “country” album, the latest single has since been sent to country radio (after initially only being serviced to Pop, Adult Contemporary, Rhythmic, R&B, and Urban).
“Texas Hold ‘Em” has already been a massive hit, becoming Beyoncé’s first #1 hit in country music when it debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart – the first time a black female artist has debuted at #1 on that chart.
Now, of course there’s been plenty of debate about just how country the song really is. But that can be said about a lot of the music being released by artists who consider themselves country too.
And plenty of artists have spoken out about Beyoncé making her debut in country music, with legends like Dolly Parton congratulating the pop star on her #1 country hit and expressing her excitement for the upcoming album.
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Of course Dolly’s been a fan of Bey for awhile now: In an interview back in 2022 on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, the host asked Dolly about her love for Beyoncé, to which Dolly responded she thought the R&B superstar could pull off a Whitney Houston-like cover of “Jolene,” similar to “I Will Always Love You.”
“I think she’s fantastic and beautiful, and I love her music. I would just love to hear ‘Jolene’ done in just a big way, kind of like how Whitney (Houston) did my ‘I Will Always Love You.’
Just someone that can take my little songs and make them like powerhouses. That would be a marvelous day in my life if she ever does do ‘Jolene.’”
Well it sounds like Dolly’s about to get her wish.
In an interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel, Dolly said that she “thinks” Beyoncé did in fact cover “Jolene” for her upcoming album:
“Well, I think she has! I think she’s recorded ‘Jolene’ and I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about that.”
Of course there have also been rumors pop up that Dolly will be part of Beyoncé’s cover, along with Miley Cyrus:
And as for the criticism that Beyoncé isn’t actually “country,” Dolly responded to that as well:
“A lot of people don’t realize Beyonce is a country girl. She’s from Texas. I think we belong wherever we can do good, and her song is number one across every chart in the whole world, I think. So, I mean, who can argue with that?”
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if “Jolene” makes the final tracklist for Renaissance: Part II. But I have a feeling Dolly wouldn’t be saying it if she didn’t already know it was going to happen.
