Dolly Parton helps rising musical talent Belles reach several U.K. charts for the first time with “Son of Jolene,” a semi-sequel to her own “Jolene.” NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 20: Dolly Parton attends Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs In Symphony World Premiere at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on March 20, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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By age 80, many people have stopped working entirely, and even many celebrated artists, actors, singers, writers, and more have either completely stopped producing new work or have slowed down considerably, but not Dolly Parton. The country superstar is still seemingly as busy as ever, whether it comes to writing and recording music or working on any number of business ventures and media projects.
Parton is back on the charts with a new hit, one which very much resembles one of her most famous smashes. As the track arrives, she helps a rising name in the country field score an initial and important win.
Dolly Parton’s “Son of Jolene” Debuts as a Bestseller
Parton joined the musician known as Belles on a track titled “Son of Jolene.” The single is something of a follow-up to the legend’s own “Jolene,” one of the most highly respected country songs of all time and a career highlight for Parton. The original songwriter of “Jolene” lent her name and voice to the tune, giving it credibility and aiding in turning it into a hit, at least in the United Kingdom.
This frame, “Son of Jolene” manages a top 40 arrival on the Official Singles Downloads chart, the ranking of the top-selling songs on platforms like iTunes in the U.K. On that ranking, “Son of Jolene” begins its time at No. 33.
Dolly Parton’s “Son of Jolene” Enters Multiple Charts
The collaboration doesn’t fare quite as well when looking at the Official Singles Sales chart, which this time around is packed with debuts due to Record Store Day. On the roster that focuses on the top-selling songs available via any format, be they digital download, CD, cassette, or vinyl, “Son of Jolene” launches at No. 80.
Belles Scores Her First U.K. Chart Hit
Belles reaches both of the U.K. charts where “Son of Jolene” debuts for the first time with help from Parton, while the more famous of the two adds to her list of hits. “Son of Jolene” marks Parton’s twelfth trip to the Official Singles Sales roster and her fourteenth appearance on the Official Singles Downloads tally.
Dolly Parton Earned Another New Hit Only Months Ago
Impressively, it’s only been a few months since Parton last debuted a track on either ranking where “Son of Jolene” appears this frame. In late January, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” hit No. 10 on both the Official Singles Sales and Official Singles Downloads charts. The song is a reworking of an older Parton cut, and the recent redo includes Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah and Reba McEntire, though none are credited by the Official Charts Company. The singer-songwriter scored just her second placement between Nos. 1 and 10 with the single, which spent less than a month on the pair of rundowns before slipping away.
“Son of Jolene” Outperforms the Original “Jolene”
“Son of Jolene” outperforms the original “Jolene” on the Official Singles Downloads chart. The first take, Parton’s solo version, peaked at No. 40.
The same is not true, however, on the Official Singles Sales tally. “Jolene” soared all the way to No. 43, several dozen spots ahead of where “Son of Jolene” enters this period.
Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” Became Her First Charting Hit
“9 to 5” earned Parton her first hit on both the Official Singles Sales and Official Singles Downloads charts, and it peaked in the same spot, No. 45. Oddly, the tune landed on the two different tallies several years apart. Parton did not appear on the downloads-only register until March 2007. More than seven years later, in the summer of 2014, “9 to 5” became her initial smash on the general sales rundown.