A woman from Prince George speculates that she might have been the inspiration behind Dolly Parton’s renowned song ‘Jolene.’ Juline Whelan crossed paths with the singer in 1972, fitting the description of the young girl whom Parton claims influenced the title of the famous track.
During a 2008 interview with Norwegian television program ‘Lydverket,’ Parton recounted, “I got the name from a little girl that had come up to the stage for an autograph in my early, early career… And I said, ‘you are the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.’ She had this red hair, green eyes, and fair skin. And I said ‘what is your name?’ and she said ‘Jolene.’ I said, ‘I’m gonna write a song about you and if you ever hear it, you’ll know it was about you.'”
Juline Whelan may not recall that specific interaction, but she distinctly remembers meeting Parton in 1972, just before the recording of ‘Jolene.’ At the age of 10, Whelan attended a country music concert featuring Parton during a family trip to Disneyland and later approached the singer for an autograph, expressing her admiration for the song ‘Coat of Many Colors.’
It wasn’t until years later, after watching a TV movie about Parton’s life in 2015, that Whelan began to connect the dots. Upon researching the origin of ‘Jolene,’ she stumbled upon the interview where Parton describes encountering a red-haired, green-eyed girl named Jolene, prompting Whelan to consider the possibility of being that girl.
Whelan’s conviction is further strengthened by the frequent mix-up of her name with “Jolene,” a common occurrence in her life that she never questioned. Despite the song’s adult-themed narrative, recounting Parton’s plea to another woman not to steal her lover, Whelan has made peace with sharing a name with the iconic character.
Initially irritated by the teasing she received from schoolmates and colleagues singing the song at her, Whelan has grown to appreciate the song’s greatness over time. She looks forward to the opportunity of meeting Parton again during her Vancouver performance on September 19, expressing a mix of excitement and speechlessness at the prospect.