Everyone who listens to country music knows Dolly Parton's major hit "Jolene." Even if you're not a fan of country or bluegrass music, it's not hard to fall in love with the song, too. The melody and the chorus are both just too good to not latch onto.
But how does Dolly do it? How does she come up with all of her amazing ideas for songs? Every great songwriter has their own method to their madness.
While the song is about a beautiful red-haired woman trying to steal Dolly's husband (supposedly a bank teller who really did exist), Dolly got the original spark for this song as almost a divine province.
After one of her concerts in 1972, the legend was meeting fans, young and old, to say hello to the people who love her the very most and support her career.
When a 10-year-old girl stepped up to the singer, Dolly had to stop and ask what her name was. Her hair was just so red, eyes so green, and skin so fair.
What did this young fan answer? The name in the song's title!
Well, that's not right on the nose, if it's really about a woman named Juline Whelan, who believes she may be that red-haired girl who came to see her idol sing on that day in 1972. Whelan has a very, very strong feeling that she could be the Jolene from Dolly's song, as all of the details line up perfectly. Although, there is always a bit of room for doubt.
Regardless, you never know what kind of impact you'll have on someone when you meet them. Whelan just happened to have left a mark on one of musics most talented songwriters. What luck!
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Header Image: Facebook / Juline Whelan
