The last song Olivia Newton-John ever recorded was “Jolene.” And standing on the other half of the duet was the woman who wrote it, Dolly Parton.
It sounds like a natural pairing. Two beloved voices, one timeless song. But it had never happened before. In all the decades they had known each other, Olivia Newton-John and Dolly Parton had never recorded a song together. Their first duet would also be Olivia’s last recording.
“I’ve Always Wanted to Sing With Dolly”
The duet was part of a project Olivia Newton-John was working on in the final stretch of her life: an album of duets with friends and fellow artists. The finished collection, Just the Two of Us: The Duets Collection, Vol. 1, would include Michael McDonald, Barry Gibb, John Travolta, Jon Secada, Mariah Carey and others. The “Jolene” track was produced by Dane Bryant.
In the footage released with the song, Dolly Parton introduces herself with her usual warmth and explains why she said yes. She called Olivia one of her favorites of all time and said the two had stayed close through the years. She also explained the song choice simply: “Jolene” was one of her own favorites that she had written, and Olivia said it was one of hers too. So why not sing it together?
Olivia’s reply was short and honest.
“I’m excited. I’ve always wanted to sing with Dolly.”
She had said the same thing in an interview in 2021. Recording with Dolly Parton was something she had wanted for a long time.
The Last Time They Were Together
Olivia Newton-John had lived with breast cancer for many years. She died on August 8, 2022, at the age of 73. Her husband, John Easterling, later said the “Jolene” duet was recorded just months before her death.
Shortly after Olivia passed, Dolly Parton called her a “special friend” in a message to fans. Later, speaking to Hello! magazine for its Breast Cancer Awareness Month issue, Dolly shared something more personal. She said her final memory of Olivia was the “Jolene” session.
“My last memory of Olivia was when I sang with her…”
At that point, Dolly had not even heard the finished album. She said she couldn’t wait to hear it, and she ended with words of goodbye to her friend: “You left a spot that no one else will ever fill.”
Released Six Months Later
On February 17, 2023, about six months after Olivia’s death, the duet and its music video were released. Fans who had been mourning her were suddenly hearing her voice again, blended with Dolly’s on a song both women loved.
John Easterling sat down with Hoda Kotb on TODAY, joined by Olivia’s daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, to talk about it. He called it “a gorgeous duet” and described Dolly as a wonderful person and a good friend to Olivia. He also said that Olivia kept giving generously right up to the very last thing she did, which was singing with Dolly Parton.
The full album followed on May 5, 2023.
Why “Jolene” Meant So Much
The song choice carried history. In 1974, a young singer from Australia won the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year award, beating Loretta Lynn, Anne Murray, Tanya Tucker and Dolly Parton herself. Many traditional country artists were upset. Some of them, led by George Jones and Tammy Wynette, formed a new group called the Association of Country Entertainers in response. Years later, Olivia said Dolly had told her the press blew the whole thing out of proportion.
Whatever was said back then, a friendship grew out of it. In 1976, Olivia Newton-John recorded her own version of “Jolene” for her album Come On Over, a nod to the woman who wrote it. Dolly, for her part, said her first memory of Olivia was hearing “Let Me Be There” become a hit, and that she had loved her ever since.
Olivia’s longtime publicist, Michael Caprio, put it well. He called the duet the perfect bookend to their decades-long friendship. Dolly had been there at the start of Olivia’s career in American country music, and she was there at the very end, singing beside her.
A Song That Came Full Circle
Nearly fifty years after one award put them on opposite sides of a Nashville argument, Olivia Newton-John and Dolly Parton finally shared a microphone. It was the first time they recorded together, and for Dolly, it became the last memory she had of her friend.
Do you remember the first time you heard Olivia Newton-John sing a country song? We’d love to hear your memories.