A 1973 hit song gets the bluegrass treatment and it sounds absolutely perfect and highly emotional.
The song starts off with the hauntingly heartbreaking plea:
“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. I’m begging of you, please don’t take my man.”
If you’re into 70’s country music or just love Dolly Parton so much, you’d spot the difference in styles right away. While the same feelings are being evoked by the song, this cover still makes it as emotional but less melancholic.
A bluegrass band based out of Branson, Missouri played a beautiful rendition of Dolly Parton’s hit single “Jolene” but not in a genre you’d expect. Compared to the original’s deep bass and heavy chords, “Jolene” gets that banjo twang treatment, the rich dobro ring, and a fiddle melody that ties them all together.
The cover was performed by the six-piece band called The Petersens.
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The family band is made up of different professionals but found common ground in music, besides being family of course!
Katie, fiddle player and songwriter, is the eldest sibling and the musical leader. She has a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Spanish, but she also teaches music.
Ellen, the banjo player, is the second eldest sibling and their director for marketing. She’s also a Chemistry major like her sister but pursued her passion for music. She even made it to the top 48 in American Idol Season 14!
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Matt, the sibling on the guitar, has a degree in Business. Besides playing the guitar, he’s also in charge of the operations and technical aspects of their show.
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Julianne, their mandolin player, is the family’s baby. But despite her position in their pecking order, she paved the way for their band to reach a new audience. On their band’s page, she’s credited for putting their performances up on YouTube.
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Since then, they’ve been performing covers for popular hits like Landslide, Take Me Home Country Roads, and even Bohemian Rhapsody.
Also included in their band is their mom, Karen, who plays bass but is also the source of their musical knowledge. Their family friend Emmett, who plays the dobro, or a resonating guitar. And their dad, Jon, who’s a musician, doctor, and a retired air force pilot.
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While most of the bands we know came from garage bands out of high school or college, the origin of the Petersens started right in their home.
“Jolene” meanwhile, has an interesting origin story of its own. Singer and songwriter Dolly Parton told NPR that the inspiration came from an 8-year-old child. She had this beautiful red hair, green eyes, and was looking up at her for an autograph. When the singer asked for her name, the girl said “Jolene”.
The song, coming off as a heartbreaking melodic plea, originated from Parton’s own experience when a redhead from a bank was giving her new husband much more attention than normal.
When the song was released in 1973, it became one of her first hits despite the song length at 200 words. Parton shared that it was the song’s simplicity, chord progression, and the haunting melody that made it a timeless classic covered by various bands and in different styles.
While the song has transcended different genres through different artists, this bluegrass rendition is undoubtedly performed in soulful perfection.
Watch how this family reimagined Dolly Parton’s hit song below, it will make you pick up a banjo.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family and enjoy this musical treat together.
