Bad Wolves Pay Tribute to Dolly Parton With Metal Version of 'Jolene' – Support Imagination Library

Dolly Parton's passing at the age of 80 has shaken the music world and her many fans globally. With an outstanding career that inspired countless artists and listeners, Parton leaves behind a legacy celebrated across generations. The American rock band Bad Wolves, known for their genre-crossing metal sound, had planned a special collaboration with Parton – a reworking of her iconic song, "Jolene."

The band's founder John Boecklin explains that the idea grew out of the singer's admiration, as he had already published his own renditions of "Jolene" online. The enthusiasm led the band to create their own, heavier version of the song for an upcoming album. The band's record label head Dan Waite then sent a demo recording to Parton's longtime manager Danny Nozell to see if Dolly might want to guest on the recording. The response was positive: Dolly listened to the version, gave her approval, and planned to record her own vocal overdubs in the studio.

Just as preparations reached the stage where vocal tracks would be sent to Parton's sound engineer, the band received news of her passing. Boecklin expressed his condolences to Parton's family, manager Danny Nozell, and all those affected by her life's work. Despite the grief, Bad Wolves chose to complete their "Jolene" tribute, and all proceeds from the single are being donated to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Imagination Library, founded in 1995 by Parton and managed by the Dollywood Foundation, aims to spark children's interest in books and reading. The program sends out free, age-appropriate books directly to children under five every month, regardless of the family's financial situation. To date, over 300 million books have been distributed, with more than three million being delivered each month worldwide.

Boecklin shares that the band feels proud to support the library. Through their musical tribute to "Jolene," they hope to contribute to Parton's vision of increased access to books and the promotion of reading among children. "We know we can play a role in carrying on Dolly's legacy through this important initiative,” he says, expressing the band's collective sympathy to all affected by her passing.

Bad Wolves' initiative stands – regardless of the exact release date and details – as both an artistic tribute and a concrete support for Parton's enduring influence beyond music. Fans are encouraged to honor Dolly Parton's memory by supporting projects that help children discover the joy of books, so that her generous spirit can live on.