Dolly Parton Teams with Belles

Dolly Parton's original "Jolene," released in 1973, was born from a combination of a real-life bank teller who flirted with her husband, Carl Dean, and a young, red-headed fan named Jolene she met at a show. The song became Parton's second solo number-one country hit and has since been widely covered by artists across various genres. The sequel's concept originated when Belles was on her headlining tour and met the mother of her opening act, whose name was Jolene. This encounter sparked the idea for a song about the son of the infamous "other woman," a narrative twist that Parton herself called "very clever." Before moving forward, Belles and her publisher made it a priority to get Parton's blessing for the sequel. The song was passed to Parton's producer, Kent Wells, who then shared it with the country legend. Parton not only approved of the concept but also lent her own vocals to the track. The new song's narrative imagines that Jolene's son inherited his mother's captivating looks and a similar disregard for relationship boundaries. Lyrics reveal the protagonist's regret after falling for him, with lines like, "He's just like his mother / Is it any wonder? / That I caught him in the dead of night with lipstick on his suit and tie." Belles, a 26-year-old Nebraska native, comes from a musical family and began her career performing in a duo with her mother. Now a solo artist in Nashville, she has opened for acts like Miranda Lambert and Old Dominion and embarked on her own headlining "Trust Issues Tour." "Son of Jolene" is set to impact country radio on May 11th, serving as a significant milestone for Belles ahead of her debut full-length album, which is expected later in 2026.