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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →“Jolene” grew from a real-life anecdote, but the song’s full story is not a documented affair. Dolly Parton said a redheaded bank teller’s attention to her husband, Carl Dean, inspired its relationship premise. She said the name “Jolene” came separately from a young fan who asked for an autograph.
What inspired the song’s story?
Parton said a redheaded bank teller had a crush on Dean and enjoyed seeing him when he came into the bank. Parton recalled teasing him about his frequent visits; she described the situation as a running joke between them. In an interview account reported by Ideastream Public Media/NPR, Parton said, “She got this terrible crush on my husband.”
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Jolene (Expanded Edition) | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Dolly Parton - Platinum & Gold Hits - Greatest Hits Album Collection - Remastered - 12 Tracks... | $29.94 | Buy on Amazon |
This is Parton’s account of the inspiration, not independent identification of the teller. The sources do not establish who she was or show that Dean had an affair. The song turns the anecdote into a more urgent dramatic plea than Parton’s description of the situation as a joke.
Who was Jolene?
Parton said the name came from a young redheaded girl who asked her for an autograph, as reported by Ideastream Public Media/NPR. That naming story is separate from the bank teller anecdote that supplied the song’s premise. The sources do not establish that the fan and the teller were the same person, and they do not identify the teller as “Jolene.”
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What happens in the song?
The narrator addresses a beautiful woman she fears may take her partner and asks her to leave him alone. Dolly Parton’s official album page describes the title track as a housewife confronting a beautiful seductress she fears is having an affair with her husband. That is the song’s dramatic setup; it is not evidence that the real-life anecdote involved an affair.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When was “Jolene” released?
The single was released in 1973, according to HISTORY. Parton’s official page dates the album Jolene to February 4, 1974, and identifies it as her 13th solo album.
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- 12 Track CD Greatest Hits Collection
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