Jack White Covers Dolly Parton's "Jolene" in London Tribute
Jack White covered Dolly Parton's 1973 classic "Jolene" during his show at London's Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on Tuesday, August 25, paying tribute to the country legend hours after news broke of her death at age 80. The cover came early in the set, part of White's ongoing UK and Ireland tour. According to NME and Setlist.FM, it marked the first time White has performed his own live version of "Jolene" since 2007.
A Song With History
White's connection to "Jolene" dates back to his time in The White Stripes, who covered the song frequently in concert. A studio recording appeared as the B-side to the 2000 single "Hello Operator," and a live version was included on the duo's 2004 concert film Under Blackpool Lights.
Ahead of the show, White posted a black-and-white photo of Parton on Instagram with the caption "Instant Sainthood." The White Stripes and White's label Third Man Records also shared a joint tribute post featuring the duo's version of "Jolene," writing that Parton's influence "went far beyond music" and citing her Imagination Library program, which has distributed millions of books to children, along with her long-standing support for education, literacy, disaster relief and underserved communities.
A Long-Running Mutual Admiration
Parton and White had exchanged public compliments before. In 2016, Parton said of a potential collaboration, "I love him to death," adding that The White Stripes had recorded one of the best versions of "Jolene" and that the two could make good music together. In a 2019 NME interview, she said White had long wanted to produce an album for her.
Tributes Pour In
Parton's team confirmed she died after a "brief battle with cancer," surrounded by loved ones. A family statement said her seventy-year career had inspired generations of artists and fans, and that her charitable work would leave a lasting legacy.
Tributes came from Elton John, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry, Eminem and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus. Glastonbury organizer Emily Eavis recalled Parton's 2014 Legends Slot performance at the festival, describing a sunny day and a packed crowd as Parton took the Pyramid Stage with commanding presence.
Just a week earlier, Parton had given fans a health update, revealing she had neglected her own health while caring for her husband Carl Dean before his death last year, saying she was "still recovering, but still working." In March, she delivered a keynote speech at Dollywood, her first public appearance in months.