Jack White honored Dolly Parton with a stirring live rendition of “Jolene” during his Tuesday night performance at London’s Eventim Apollo. White later shared footage of the emotional cover on Instagram, where the clip concludes with him gesturing toward the sky and making the sign of the cross.
The musician has a longstanding connection to the 1974 classic. The White Stripes frequently performed their version in concert and released it as the B-side to their 2000 single “Hello Operator.” Parton herself praised that interpretation in a 2016 interview with The Guardian, calling it “one of the greatest versions ever of ‘Jolene.'” She also revealed she had dined with White in Los Angeles and discussed a potential future collaboration, noting, “he would be someone wonderful. And I think we would make some beautiful music together.”
Despite that mutual admiration, the two never officially recorded together. According to Setlist.fm, Tuesday marked the first time White had performed “Jolene” live since 2007.
Ahead of the concert, White posted a photograph of Parton on Instagram captioned “Instant Sainthood.” His label, Third Man Records, issued a statement celebrating Parton’s broader impact: “Dolly’s legacy goes far beyond the music. For decades, she’s used her voice, her success, and her heart to make a difference. From the Imagination Library putting millions of books into children’s hands to supporting education, literacy, disaster relief, and communities in need. An incredible artist, philanthropist, advocate, and human being. Thank you, Dolly, for a lifetime of giving back and making the world a little brighter.”
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