Meeting up in a warmly lit recording studio, legends of music Dolly Parton and Olivia Newton-John decided to combine their talents to record a duet of Dolly’s hit song ‘Jolene’. With Dolly citing it as one of her favorite songs she’d ever written and Olivia sharing that she’d always wanted to cover the song, this was clearly an opportunity that the two singers reveled in. Music Man readers are sure to adore the cover, too, when they hear the voices of these two iconic singers meld together.
Released in February 2023, the cover was released just over six months after Olivia Newton-John passed after a long fight with cancer. Online viewers were astonished by how, despite her health struggles, Olivia’s voice was as strong as ever. Viewers were blown away as she hit some impressive high notes towards the end of the song, commenting, “How could you possibly top that?” and “Olivia’s voice never diminished. Neither has Dolly’s. Beautiful” on the video, which now has over 3.5M views.
Olivia Newton-John has long been famous for her iconic duets, ever since her appearance in Grease, in which she sang ‘You’re The One That I Want’ and ‘Summer Nights’ with John Travolta. Dolly Parton has also gained recognition for her duets, her most famous being ‘Islands In The Stream’ with Kenny Rogers. Olivia Newton-John covered the song in 2009, as she sang Dolly’s part in a duet with Barry Gibb, Bee Gees member and original writer of the song, as part of the Sound Relief Festival.
Music Man fans will love to see how Olivia once again brought her strong, crystal-clear vocals to the country-style song. Not only did she perform a beautiful cover of the track, but she also demonstrated her generous nature. Performing in the fundraiser to support victims of the Australian bushfires was perfectly in line with Olivia’s charitable nature, and she was awarded the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2020 for services to charity, cancer research, and entertainment.
In a continuation of her work for bushfire relief, the last concert Olivia Newton-John performed before her passing was at the Fire Fight Australia charity event in February 2020, just proving her commitment to the causes close to her heart that lasted all throughout her life. Not only will Olivia be missed by fans across the world, but her duet performances with her peers show how she will be missed within the music industry, too. With a voice like no other, Olivia Newton-John is one artist who simply cannot be replaced.
Dolly Parton and Olivia Newton-John have reignited the magic of timeless music with their powerful duet of “Jolene.” This deeply moving rendition showcases the enduring talent of both legends, capturing hearts around the globe. To dive deeper into the remarkable legacies of these iconic artists and witness their unforgettable performances, explore the links below.