Bad Wolves Release Jolene Cover With Dolly Parton
The metal band teamed up with Dolly Parton to release a new version of Jolene to benefit the Imagination Library.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Metal
Live Poll
Do you support the release of new music featuring posthumous vocal recordings of deceased artists?
Bad Wolves has released a new metal cover of the classic track Jolene featuring original vocal stems from country legend Dolly Parton. Proceeds from the song are being donated to support the Imagination Library.
Why it matters
This unique collaboration combines heavy metal instrumentation with iconic country vocals to raise funds for a children's literacy organization. The project demonstrates a cross-genre bridge aimed at generating financial support for educational outreach.
The new version features a heavy breakdown occurring at the two-minute mark of the song. Kent Wells served as the producer responsible for mixing the vocal stems into the band's existing recording.
The players
Bad Wolves
This metal band is known for performing heavy reinterpretations of popular songs.
Dolly Parton
An iconic singer-songwriter and humanitarian, she is widely celebrated for her extensive contributions to country music.
Imagination Library
Founded by Dolly Parton, this program provides free books to children from birth until they reach school age.
Nashville School of Rock
This music school provides performance-based education for students in the Nashville area.
The details
The track features vocal contributions from Sara Killboy Skinner alongside the provided stems from Dolly Parton. Accompanying the release is a music video filmed in Nashville that features students from the local School of Rock.
Timeline
Dolly Parton passed away in late August.
The music video was filmed with Nashville School of Rock students earlier this month.
The new version of the song was released on October 23, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This project continues the trend of metal artists seeking cross-genre legitimacy by integrating legacy country vocals into aggressive soundscapes. It highlights how bands leverage historical audio assets to drive visibility for charitable initiatives.
Fans of both metal and country can now stream the collaboration and watch the accompanying music video featuring the Nashville School of Rock students. Listening to or purchasing the track directly contributes to the fundraising efforts for the Imagination Library.
The takeaway
This collaboration highlights the potential for metal artists to repurpose classic recordings to support charitable causes. Listeners can support the Imagination Library by streaming the new track as part of its official release.
Further reading
Explore more artist news and releases on our Metal section.
Live Poll
Do you support the release of new music featuring posthumous vocal recordings of deceased artists?
