Juline Whelan, a resident of Prince George, speculates that she might have been the inspiration behind Dolly Parton’s renowned song, “Jolene.” Whelan encountered the singer in 1972 and aligns with the description of the young girl that Parton claims influenced the title of the famous track.
In an interview with the Norwegian television program “Lydverket” in 2008, Parton recounted how she encountered a little girl with red hair, green eyes, and fair skin who introduced herself as “Jolene.” She promised the girl she would write a song about her, ensuring she would recognize it when she heard it.
Whelan, however, does not recall this specific interaction but distinctly remembers meeting Parton in 1972, a year before “Jolene” was recorded. At the age of 10, she attended a country music concert featuring Parton during a family trip to Disneyland and approached the singer for an autograph, expressing her admiration for Parton’s song “Coat of Many Colors.”
Years later, after watching a television movie about Parton’s life in 2015, Whelan decided to investigate further. She discovered Parton’s interview describing the encounter with the red-haired, green-eyed girl named Jolene. The pieces started to fall into place for Whelan as she recognized similarities between herself and the girl in Parton’s story.
Whelan’s confidence in the connection is reinforced by the frequent confusion between her name, Juline, and “Jolene.” She acknowledges that being mistaken for “Jolene” is a common occurrence for her.
Although the song “Jolene” draws its name from a child, its narrative is mature, portraying Parton’s emotional plea to another woman not to interfere in her relationship. Parton has acknowledged that the song’s storyline was partly inspired by a flirtatious bank teller who showed interest in her husband. Regarded as one of Parton’s greatest hits, “Jolene” was ranked as the 217th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
Initially, the association with the song was irksome for Whelan, as classmates and later colleagues would jest by singing the lyrics to her. However, she has come to appreciate the song over time, accepting the connection with one of pop culture’s iconic figures.
Whelan eagerly anticipates the opportunity to reunite with Parton when she performs in Vancouver on September 19, although she is unsure of what she would say if given the chance to meet her again.