Dolly Parton’s famous hit, “Jolene,” has been a favorite of country music fans for decades. In 2019, Dolly challenged musicians everywhere to offer their best renditions of her song for an upcoming Netflix series titled “Heartstrings.” One group to answer her call were the Petersens, a family band from Branson, Mo.
The band comprises four siblings: Katie (fiddler), Ellen (banjoist), Matt (guitarist), and Julianne (on the mandolin). Their mother, Karen, plays the bass, and a family friend, Emmett Franz, plays the dobro. You can tell they are immensely talented as soon as they play the instrumentals and start harmonizing.
It isn’t long before they take you on a journey and tell you the tale of how a red-headed temptress is trying to snatch away Dolly’s husband. The sad part is she is doing it, just because she can, and not out of genuine affection. The family band does a fabulous job conveying all the emotions behind this song by using a flawless blend of vocals and beautiful sounds.
Sadly, the band’s version did not make it on the Netflix series, but it is still an exceptional cover. I’m sure they made Dolly proud. Anyone who is a fan of “Jolene,” will love this version. It has a more bluegrass feel than the original but is well worth the listen.
