Bad Wolves Honor Dolly Parton With Heavy Metal “Jolene” Cover Benefiting Imagination Library

WEPAAAA, rock familia. This one hits different.

Bad Wolves are honoring the late Dolly Parton with a heavy metal version of her iconic song “Jolene”, set for release on August 31, 2026. The band says proceeds from the track will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, extending the tribute beyond the music and directly supporting one of the causes that defined Parton’s life outside the spotlight.

The story behind the recording makes the release even more emotional. According to Bad Wolves founder John Boecklin, the band had already completed its heavy take on “Jolene” after new vocalist Sara “KILLBOY” Skinner shared videos of herself covering the song. Better Noise Music CEO Dan Waite then sent the finished demo to Parton’s manager, Danny Nozell, with an invitation for Dolly to appear on the track.

Boecklin says the response went far beyond what the band expected. Parton reportedly heard the version, loved it, and was preparing to enter the studio to add her own vocals. Bad Wolves had already sent over the stems for her studio team when news arrived of her passing.

Parton died on August 25 at age 80, prompting tributes from across music, entertainment and beyond. For Bad Wolves, the timing transformed what had been shaping up as a dream collaboration into something much more personal.

“We will honor Dolly’s incredible legacy by donating proceeds from ‘Jolene’ to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library,” Boecklin said in the band’s announcement.

Founded by Parton in 1995, the Imagination Library provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth through age five. The program has distributed more than 300 million books and now mails millions of books to children every month around the world.

There is also some history here that makes the choice feel very Bad Wolves. The band broke through globally in 2018 with its heavy reinterpretation of The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” a cover that became one of the defining moments of its career. Taking on “Jolene” puts Bad Wolves back in that space where a familiar song gets rebuilt through a much heavier lens, but this time the emotional context carries a completely different weight.

The release also arrives during a new chapter for the band. KILLBOY joined Bad Wolves as vocalist in 2026, bringing a different energy to the group while John Boecklin, AJ Rebollo and Derek Bolman continue pushing the band forward. Their recent single “Paint It Red” marked the beginning of that era, with more new music expected to follow.

“Jolene” lands Monday, August 31, and instead of simply being another cover, it now stands as a tribute to an artist whose music crossed generations and genres with ease. Heavy metal and country may live in different neighborhoods, but respect travels everywhere.

Rest easy, Dolly. Your songs are still moving, your books are still reaching kids, and your legacy is still doing the work.

The Crusade Never Ends!