A woman from Prince George speculates that she could be the inspiration behind Dolly Parton’s hit song ‘Jolene.’ Juline Whelan encountered the singer in 1972 and corresponds to the description of the young girl whom Parton claims sparked the idea for the renowned track.
In an interview with the Norwegian television program ‘Lydverket’ in 2008, Parton recounted, “I got the name from a little girl that had come up to the stage for an autograph in my early, early career. And I said, ‘you are the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.’ She had this red hair, green eyes, and fair skin. And I said ‘what is your name?’ and she said ‘Jolene.’ I said, ‘I’m gonna write a song about you, and if you ever hear it, you’ll know it was about you.'”
Whelan, however, has no recollection of that specific conversation. She does recall meeting Parton in 1972, just before ‘Jolene’ was recorded. Whelan, then 10 years old, attended a country music concert featuring Parton with her family during a trip to Disneyland.
Years later, upon watching a TV movie about Parton’s life in 2015, Whelan began to connect the dots. After researching the origins of ‘Jolene,’ she discovered the interview where Parton described meeting a red-haired, green-eyed girl named Jolene, prompting Whelan to realize the potential connection.
Whelan’s frequent mix-up of her name with ‘Jolene’ further strengthens her belief in the possibility. Despite the mature theme of the song, depicting a plea from Parton to another woman not to steal her love, Whelan embraces the association with one of music’s iconic figures.
Initially annoyed by the song being sung at her by peers, Whelan has come to appreciate ‘Jolene’ over time. She hopes to reunite with Parton during her Vancouver performance on September 19, admitting that she might be left speechless in such a moment.
The saga behind ‘Jolene’ continues to captivate audiences, resonating with listeners worldwide and securing its place as one of Parton’s most celebrated works.