The former White Stripes frontman played the song for the first time in nearly two decades
Yesterday, music icon Dolly Parton passed away at age 80. Tributes began pouring in from entertainment royalty immediately. Rockers like Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Rob Halford, and many more took to social media to express their sentiments for the late country queen. Recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jack White took to the stage for his tribute, playing Dolly’s hit “Jolene” live for the first time in 19 years.
Check out the live footage below.
According to setlist.fm, Jack’s last performance of Jolene was with The White Stripes at their Madison Square Garden concert back in 2007. The duo released a recorded version of the track as a B-Side to their single “Hello Operator.” Fans loved it, and it became a regular edition to their live shows. Dolly herself called The White Stripes version “wonderful.”
“I thought that was an interesting name when I started hearing that song as a teenager,” White recalled to NPR in a 2008 interview. “And I guess later on, as a songwriter, I started to think about names starting with ‘J,’ like, that could be used almost accusatory, like Jezebel…Jolene.”
Originally released by Parton in 1974, “Jolene” shot straight to No. 1 on the country chart and garnered Dolly two Grammy Award nominations.
In 2023, Dolly released Rockstar – a huge double album featuring all rock songs. The record featured a star-studded list of guest stars including Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Elton John, Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe), Sting, Ann Wilson (Heart), John Fogerty, Kid Rock, Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac), Peter Frampton, Joan Jett, and more. The album made its way to No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and topped both Billboard’s Top Country Albums and Top Rock Albums. Three years after its release, Rockstar has been certified Gold by the RIAA.
Last year, Dolly made a very special guest appearance on a new version of Motley Crue’s 1985 hit “Home Sweet Home” to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band’s hit album Theatre of Pain.
Jack White is currently in the midst of a huge world tour in support of his latest acclaimed album Frozen Charlotte.