Beyoncé pays tribute to Dolly Parton after “Cowboy Carter” collaboration: ‘I will treasure that forever’

Kathleen PerriconeWed, August 26, 2026 at 3:49 AM UTC

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Beyoncé in Hollywood in 2024; Dolly Parton in Nashville in 2025Credit: Amy Sussman/WireImage; Jason Kempin/GettyKey Points -

Beyoncé pays tribute to Dolly Parton, one of her collaborators on 2024’s Cowboy Carter.

“I’m honored that I had the privilege to work with you,” Bey wrote on her website. “I will treasure that forever.”

Parton contributed vocals to two tracks on the country album, which features a cover of “Jolene.”

Queen Bey is remembering the Queen of Country.

Beyoncé paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton, a significant collaborator on her 2024 country album, Cowboy Carter. The Nashville legend not only contributed vocals to two tracks, “Dolly P” and “Tyrant,” she granted Bey permission to cover her most famous song, “Jolene.”

“Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star,” the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer wrote on her website. “Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself. I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humor, your entrepreneurship. I’m honored that I had the privilege to work with you. I will treasure that forever. Thank you for your profound impact on the world. You are an angel who has made this world a happier place because of your joyful art. You are truly one of one. Rest peacefully.”

Bey’s tribute to Dolly PartonCredit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty; beyonce.com

The concept of Cowboy Carter is a radio broadcast, with Parton acting as one of the disc jockeys alongside fellow country icons Willie Nelson and Linda Martell, the first commercially successful Black country singer.

On “Dolly P,” Parton introduces “Jolene,” which Bey modernized considerably compared to the 1973 original.

Rather than “I’m begging of you please don’t take my man,” the Grammy winner sings, “I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man.” Several other reworked lyrics sound more like a reflection of Beyoncé’s marriage to Jay-Z instead of Parton’s inspiration, her husband Carl Dean.

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“I think it was very bold of her,” Parton told E! News during an interview at Dollywood. “When they said she was gonna do‘Jolene,’ I expected it to be my regular one, but it wasn’t,” Parton later told E! News. “But I love what she did to it. And as a songwriter, you love the fact that people do your songs no matter how they do them.”

Parton’s appearance on Cowboy Carter was kept a secret until the album dropped. But she did drop an Easter egg when the lead single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” went straight to the charts.

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“I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album,” Parton wrote on Instagram. “So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single. Can’t wait to hear the full album!”

Beyoncé went on to make history with Cowboy Carter as the first Black artist to win Best Country Album, as well as Album of the Year, at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

on Entertainment Weekly

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”