Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' Named Best Country Song Ever by Billboard

Dolly Parton is synonymous with "icon." She's one of the most universally beloved artists in the world. She paved the way for women in country music, with a heart that's bigger than her signature voluminous hairstyle.

The singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist has produced an impressive 50 studio albums over the course of her six-decade career. She has accolades aplenty under her belt, including 11 Grammys, three Emmys, six Golden Globes, and an honorary Oscar (she was nominated for a Tony, so she's close to achieving EGOT status).

Parton also has 25 No. 1 singles on the Billboard country music charts. If you guessed that three of those tunes are "I Will Always Love You," "9 to 5," and "Jolene," you'd be correct. Many music critics have hailed the latter as a quintessential country song. It's been included on several best-of lists and rankings, including Rolling Stone's 2021 edition of its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," where it sat at No. 63.

Released as a single on Oct. 15, 1973, the titular track from Parton's 13th studio album (which hit stores on Feb. 4, 1974) became her second single to hit No. 1 on the country charts. Parton was nominated for two Grammy Awards for her live recording of the track in 1975 and 1976. It gave way to several covers in the years to come, including those by Olivia Newton-John, The White Stripes, Pentatonix, Miley Cyrus (Parton's goddaughter), and Beyoncé, whose version appeared on her 2024 album, Cowboy Carter.

"Jolene" was inspired by a redheaded bank clerk who flirted with Parton's husband, Carl Dean, during the early years of their marriage. Parton told the crowd at Glastonbury in 2014 that the tune is "loosely based on a little bit of truth," noting that her husband "was spending a little more time with Jolene than I thought he should be." However, Parton thanked the eponymous Jolene for "all that money" she made from writing the seminal country hit.

The Billboard staff also ranked "Jolene" on their list of "The 100 Best Country Songs of All Time." To the surprise of no one, it took the top spot at No. 1. Billboard observed that, while the real-life event didn't derail Parton and Dean's marriage, the tune is "a testament to her storytelling imagination and songwriting."

"Jolene" deserves all the flowers and more for its profound relatability and endurance as an emotionally impactful country classic.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 5:08 PM.