Bad Wolves have now newly issued an alternate version of their cover of Dolly Parton‘s “Jolene“, this time featuring posthumously released guest vocals from Parton herself. That rendition of the Parton fav has been a divisive one, with Bad Wolves guitarist AJ Rebollo exiting the band in response to alleged label pressure to move forward with the cover in the immediate wake of Parton‘s passing. Rebollo would later walk back some of his comments.
As the story goes, Bad Wolves had approached Parton to guest on the cover prior to her death from cancer this past August. While she had agreed to do the track, her illness ultimately prevented her from recording her planned parts.
In turn, the band released their own rendition shortly after Parton‘s death with the blessing of her manager Danny Nozell. Bad Wolves set out to donate the proceeds from that track to Parton‘s nonprofit ‘Imagination Library’ ‘organization, which aims to get books in the hands of young children.
However, given Bad Wolves‘ prior experience with covering other artists, some felt the decision to release another cover of a beloved artist shortly after their death was in poor taste. Years ago Bad Wolves had reached out to Dolores O’Riordan to involve her on a cover of The Cranberries‘ track “Zombie“.
O’Riordan passed away prior to completing her parts, with Bad Wolves releasing their cover as is shortly after her death. They would go on to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars from that 3x platinum-certified rendition to O’Riordan‘s family.
Ultimately, Bad Wolves put out their cover of “Jolene“ on August 31st, a week after Parton‘s August 25th death. Now they’ve released a new version of the song which finds previously recorded parts from Parton newly being integrated into that cover.
A press release notes that this new version was done with the support and approval of Parton‘s estate, and that proceeds from it will continue to be donated towards her aforementioned nonprofit. Her longtime producer Kent Wells was enlisted to oversee her posthumous inclusion on this track.
A new music video featuring students from Nashville’s School Of Rock was shot for this cover and is available below. Better Noise Music chairman Allen Kovac commented:
“Bad Wolves and the kids from The School Of Rock performed ‘Jolene‘ with raw passion, heavy grit, and zero compromise. This is the same independent spirit Dolly Parton used to build The Imagination Library from the ground up. Having witnessed the challenges her own father faced with illiteracy, Dolly didn’t wait for someone else to fix the problem, she used her platform to make a difference.
She found a way to start sending free books to children to promote literacy and a love of reading because it was important to her. Right now, Dolly’s foundation, The School Of Rock, and Bad Wolves are calling on every artist to honor Dolly‘s legacy by using their platform to support this effort and make a difference in children’s lives. Leverage your independent strength to help give the next generation the future they deserve.”
Bad Wolves drummer John Boecklin added:
“Being able to raise money for Dolly’s charity is an honor, and being able to work with the kids from the Nashville School of Rock was an amazing experience.”
Angie McCreight, owner of the Nashville School Of Rock, stated:
“At School of Rock, our mission is to enrich lives through performance-based music education while building a passionate community of students and instructors. Dolly Parton has long been a favorite artist within our school—not only because of her extraordinary musical legacy, but also because of the joy she has brought to generations of fans and her enduring commitment to education.
Supporting the Imagination Library through this project is a meaningful way to celebrate Dolly, give back to a cause she champions, and express our deep admiration for her legacy. Our students were thrilled to be part of creating this video, and their energy, enthusiasm, and genuine desire to support the cause made the experience especially rewarding. Dolly Parton will always be a ROCKSTAR at the Nashville School of Rock, and we are proud to honor her legacy through the power of music and the next generation of performers.”
