Spotify mistakenly listed the lyrics to Dolly Parton’s Welsh version of “Jolene” as Irish. The track, a collaboration with Welsh singer‑songwriter Bronwen Lewis and Parton’s niece Jada Star, was released on 9 October, two weeks after Parton’s death on 25 August. The song blends English and Welsh verses, but the digital platform misidentified the language as Irish.
After the BBC approached the company for comment, Spotify removed the incorrect Irish lyrics. The BBC had asked when the single and its lyrics were uploaded, when the error was noticed, and when it would be corrected, but received no reply.
The Welsh rendition originated when Lewis, from Neath, translated the classic and shared it on social media. Star then proposed recording the track with Lewis, and Parton agreed. The release marks Parton’s second post‑humous single; she died at age 81 on 25 August. The legendary country artist, of Welsh descent, won 10 Grammy Awards and sold over 100 million records worldwide.
“Jolene,” released in 1973, tells of a woman fearing her husband may leave her for a red‑haired bank clerk. It earned a 1974 Grammy nomination and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The song has since amassed more than one billion streams on Spotify and has been covered by numerous artists.
Parton’s Welsh heritage was publicly revealed in 2008 during a concert at Cardiff International Arena, where she mentioned her mother Avie Lee Owens’ ancestry. Post‑humous research by Conwy Council archives indicated her ancestors were from Machynlleth in Powys, not Conwy as previously thought.
Fans can now enjoy the correct Welsh lyrics on Spotify, while the platform continues to review its metadata processes to prevent similar errors.
