Welsh singer-songwriter Bronwen Lewis found herself in awe when her renditions of Dolly Parton’s songs in Welsh led to a collaboration with the country music icon. Lewis, hailing from Wales, began sharing her covers of Parton’s tracks online around two years ago. Notably, her version of “Jolene” captured the interest of Parton’s niece, Jada Star, ultimately paving the way for a joint recording with the legendary artist.
Describing the experience as surreal, Lewis expressed gratitude for Parton’s belief in the project. The freshly released Welsh rendition of “Jolene,” featuring vocals from Parton alongside Lewis and Star, marks Parton’s second posthumous song release and one of her final recordings before her passing at the age of 80 in August.
Lewis, a devoted country music enthusiast, highlighted the authenticity and powerful message in Parton’s music, which she felt resonated beautifully with the Welsh language. Reflecting on the emotional impact of hearing Parton’s vocals in both English and Welsh, Lewis shared that tears were immediate, a sentiment echoed by many listeners upon the track’s release.
Parton’s potential Welsh heritage on her mother’s side adds an intriguing layer to the collaboration. Star, impressed by Lewis’s talent, alongside Parton’s nieces and nephews, extended an invitation to Lewis to collaborate on a studio version of “Jolene,” which Parton readily embraced.
Acknowledging the significance of the Welsh language’s history and resilience, Lewis emphasized the pride felt by the Welsh community in sharing their culture on a global stage through this musical endeavor. She hoped that the emotional depth conveyed in the Welsh cover of “Jolene” would serve as a reminder of the universal nature of heartbreak and the common threads that connect people across languages and cultures.