Ella Langley Honors Late Dolly Parton With 'Jolene' Performance in Auburn
At a concert in Auburn, Alabama, country singer Ella Langley performed a cover of Dolly Parton's 1974 hit 'Jolene' as a tribute to the late icon. Langley told the crowd the show felt incomplete without the homage, and she had previously posted a social media statement thanking Parton for paving the way for women in the industry. The performance came days after Parton's death at age 80.
Langley's tribute came at Neville Arena, the venue at her alma mater, where she addressed the crowd directly before performing the 1974 hit. The cover arrives as "Jolene" may reach Number One on the singles chart for the first time, a milestone tied to renewed interest following Parton's death earlier that week.
In her social media statement, Langley specifically credited Parton for modeling bravery across multiple roles—artist, songwriter, producer, and author—and for standing firm as a woman in a male-dominated industry. The Auburn performance extended that written tribute into a live, communal moment for concertgoers.
The tribute reflects how younger country artists are processing Parton's legacy through public performance, which could deepen fan engagement with her catalog and inspire renewed appreciation for her songwriting. It may also reinforce the ongoing conversation about women's representation in country music, as Langley's acknowledgment of Parton's pioneering role resonates with audiences who see similar struggles continuing today.