The Real Story Behind Dolly Parton’s Hit ‘Jolene’ and How it Ties to Her Husband Carl Dean

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:courtesy Dolly Parton

courtesy Dolly Parton

The singer’s October 1973 hit song chronicles one woman’s jealousy surrounding her significant other’s interest in another woman. But the “real” Jolene didn’t try to “take” Dean. Instead, she had a flirtatious banter with him when she helped him at the bank.

“[The] song was loosely based on a little bit of truth,” she said during the 2014 Glastonbury Festival, perThe Independent. “I wrote that years ago when my husband… was spending a little more time with Jolene than I thought he should be.”

“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” Parton toldNPRin 2008. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us — when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.’ So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean.Courtesy of Dolly Parton

As for whether or not that bank teller was named Jolene, Parton confirmed she decided to use the name of a young fan.

“One night, I was on stage, and there was this beautiful little girl — she was probably 8 years old at the time,” Parton told NPR.

“And she had this beautiful red hair, this beautiful skin, these beautiful green eyes, and she was looking up at me, holding, you know, for an autograph,” Parton continued. “I said, ‘Well, you’re the prettiest little thing I ever saw. So what is your name?’ And she said, ‘Jolene.’ And I said, ‘Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.’ I said, ‘That is pretty. That sounds like a song. I’m going to write a song about that.’ "

Dolly Parton “Jolene” Cover Art.RCA

RCA

Despite the singer’s frustration with the bank teller’s flirtatious nature with Dean, Parton thanked “Jolene” during the 2014 Glastonbury Festival.

“I want you folks to know, though, that something good can come from anything. Had it not been for that woman I would never have written ‘Jolene’ and I wouldn’t have made all that money, so thank you, Jolene.”

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Dolly Parton and Carl Dean.courtesy Dolly Parton

“Jolene,” which was placed No. 63 onRolling Stone’s 2024 list of the500 Greatest Songs of All Time, became an iconic song in Parton’s discography and country music. The song was the first single and title track of her 1973 album of the same name.

The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame. It was nominated for the Best Female Country Vocal Performance Grammy award twice. The first time for the original recording in 1975, and the next year for a live recording.

source: people.com