Jack White Revives White Stripes' 'Jolene' Cover in Tribute to Dolly Parton
Jack White honored the late Dolly Parton by performing his cover of "Jolene" for the first time since the White Stripes disbanded in 2007. He preceded the performance with an Instagram post reading "Instant Sainthood," and was joined by numerous other artists including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Paul McCartney in paying tribute. The cover had been a staple of the White Stripes' live shows.
White's rendition of "Jolene" had long been a fixture of White Stripes concerts, though he had not performed it publicly since the duo's 2007 dissolution. The revival came just one day after Parton's passing at age 80, marking an emotional return to a song that had become synonymous with the band's raw, garage-rock energy.
The tribute extended far beyond White, with a wide array of artists from country, pop, and hip-hop posting remembrances. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves, Shania Twain, and Eminem all joined in honoring Parton, underscoring her influence across musical genres and generations.
This tribute could reignite public interest in both Parton's original catalog and the White Stripes' reinterpretations, potentially introducing younger listeners to either artist's work. The breadth of tributes across genres may also reinforce Parton's status as a unifying cultural figure, demonstrating how a single songwriter's legacy can bridge divides in an increasingly fragmented music landscape.