Beyoncé is remembering Dolly Parton as an artist who helped set the standard for others and as a collaborator whose voice became part of one of the defining albums of her own career.
After Parton’s death at 80 on Aug. 25, Beyoncé shared a tribute on her website alongside a black-and-white photograph of the country legend. She called Parton “the barometer” and “the North Star” while praising her talent, individuality, generosity, humor and entrepreneurship, according to PEOPLE.
Beyoncé also returned to the connection they made through her 2024 album Cowboy Carter. Parton contributed her voice to two tracks, while Beyoncé recorded a substantially rewritten version of “Jolene” that replaced the pleading perspective of Parton’s original with a warning.
Parton had encouraged Beyoncé’s move into country music before the album was released and continued praising her interpretation afterward. Beyoncé’s tribute came hours after Parton’s family announced her death in Nashville, representatives later confirmed that she died following a brief battle with cancer.
Beyoncé Said She Will Always Treasure Working With Parton
Beyoncé’s tribute celebrated more than Parton’s music. “You were the barometer. The North Star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious,” she wrote, adding that Parton had taught generations how to be uniquely themselves.
She thanked Parton for her “art,” “heart,” generosity, humor and entrepreneurship before turning to their own collaboration. “I’m honored that I had the privilege to work with you. I will treasure that forever,” Beyoncé wrote. She closed by calling Parton an angel whose joyful work made the world happier and described her as “truly one of one.”
Parton Became Part of the World Beyoncé Built on ‘Cowboy Carter’
Parton’s presence on Cowboy Carter extended beyond Beyoncé recording one of her best-known songs. On the spoken interlude “Dolly P,” Parton addresses “Miss Honey B” immediately before Beyoncé’s version of “Jolene.” She also introduces “Tyrant” later on the album, as Variety detailed while covering Beyoncé’s tribute.
“Dolly P” also links “Jolene” to Beyoncé’s own catalog, with Parton referring to the “good hair” lyric associated with Beyoncé’s 2016 song “Sorry.” Beyoncé then substantially changes Parton’s original lyrics, turning the narrator from someone begging Jolene to stay away into someone warning her not to pursue the relationship.
Parton was one of several established country voices incorporated into Cowboy Carter, alongside Willie Nelson and Linda Martell. The album later won Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammys, with Beyoncé becoming the first Black woman to win the Best Country Album category, according to the Recording Academy.
Parton Had Already Given Beyoncé’s ‘Jolene’ Her Blessing
Parton publicly supported Beyoncé’s move into country music before Cowboy Carter arrived. After “Texas Hold ‘Em” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in February 2024, she congratulated Beyoncé and said she was excited to hear the full album.
She had also suggested before the release that Beyoncé had recorded “Jolene.” Once the new version arrived, Parton embraced the changes, joking on social media that Beyoncé was giving Jolene trouble and later saying she was honored that Beyoncé had made the song her own.
In a 2025 interview with PEOPLE, Parton said she loved hearing other artists interpret her songs differently. She praised Beyoncé as a “magnificent artist,” called Cowboy Carter a “really, really good album” and contrasted Beyoncé’s warning to Jolene with the vulnerability of her 1973 original.
“I loved her interpretation,” Parton said. She added that songwriters enjoy hearing other performers put their own spin on their work and said she was “very proud” of what Beyoncé had done with “Jolene.”