A woman from Prince George speculates that she could be the inspiration behind Dolly Parton’s song “Jolene.” Juline Whelan encountered the singer in 1972, fitting the description of the young girl that Parton claims influenced the title of the renowned track.
In an interview with a Norwegian television show “Lydverket” in 2008, Dolly Parton revealed, “I got the name from a little girl that had come up to the stage for an autograph in my early, early career.” Parton described the girl as having red hair, green eyes, and fair skin, naming her “Jolene” for the song.
While Juline Whelan doesn’t recall the specific conversation, she does remember meeting Dolly Parton in 1972, a year before “Jolene” was recorded. At the age of 10, Whelan attended a country music concert featuring Parton during a family trip to Disneyland and obtained the singer’s autograph after being captivated by her song “Coat of Many Colors.”
It wasn’t until later years that Whelan realized her encounter with Parton might have sparked the country star’s creativity. After watching a TV movie about Parton’s life in 2015, Whelan conducted some research and discovered Parton’s interview mentioning the red-haired, green-eyed girl named Jolene.
Whelan noted the resemblance between herself and the described girl, emphasizing that her name is frequently mistaken for “Jolene.” Despite initial annoyance over the song’s popularity, Whelan has come to appreciate it over time.
Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” portrays a mature narrative, with Parton expressing desperation to prevent another woman from stealing her lover. Parton has mentioned that the storyline was partially inspired by a flirtatious redhead who showed interest in her husband.
Although Whelan endured teasing due to the song, she now embraces sharing a name with the iconic character. Looking forward to Dolly Parton’s upcoming performance in Vancouver, Whelan hopes for a second meeting with the singer, even though she anticipates being speechless in her presence.