Bad Wolves and Better Noise Music announced a new version of their ‘Jolene’ cover that features Dolly Parton’s vocals. The release will benefit Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, as announced on Instagram.
Better Noise Music and Bad Wolves said announced: “Honoring Dolly Parton’s legacy and supporting a cause close to her heart. Stream Bad Wolves’s version of ‘Jolene’ with Dolly Parton to benefit Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at the link in bio.”
The cover became the center of a disagreement within the band. Bad Wolves guitarist AJ Rebollo left the group over the decision to release the song, but later issued a statement to clarify his position.
Rebollo explained his earlier departure and addressed the controversy. “I would like to follow up on my post the other day regarding my leave from Bad Wolves and say, once again, that this was NOT in any way a call to arms against Bad Wolves, or Better Noise,” he said. “I would like to clarify some discrepancies regarding the flow of information and try to shift the focus to the positives here.”
Rebollo stressed that the project had the approval of Parton’s team. “At the end of the day, the band and label did, in fact, have the blessing of Dolly’s team to move forward with the cover, despite the fact that Dolly could no longer be involved, as previously planned. On top that, John, who is the head of Bad Wolves pertaining to all things business-related, and the contractually-obligated owner of the band, did give the green light to move forward with the release when the time came.”
He emphasized the charitable purpose of the release. “Now, regardless of any disagreements I may have had with the label prior, or me leaving the band, there is no denying the fact that the proceeds from this track will bring about something great for Imagination Library and the kids who will receive books from the foundation.”
Rebollo added his support for moving forward with the project. “I am not retracting my departure, but I would like to, once again, encourage everybody upset by this to acknowledge the fact that Dolly’s team, wanted this decision to come to fruition. So, at the end of the day, it is no one else’s place to oppose that.”
The cover is being released to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The “Jolene” project echoes Bad Wolves’ earlier experience with tribute covers. The band, formed in 2017, gained recognition with their cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie.” Singer Dolores O’Riordan was scheduled to add vocals to the track at a studio session in London but died that morning at age 46. The band released the cover with all profits going to O’Riordan’s three children.
For the “Jolene” cover, Bad Wolves’ singer Sara “Killboy” Skinner, a fan of Dolly, had posted videos of her covering the song. The band decided to make a heavy metal version for their next album. Label CEO Dan Waite sent the finished demo to Dolly’s manager Danny Nozell requesting Dolly as a guest feature. Dolly loved the version and planned to go into the studio to add her vocals, but the collaboration did not materialize before the country music icon died on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer.
AJ Rebollo, who joined Bad Wolves as a touring guitarist in 2023, quit the band citing the upcoming “Jolene” release as the breaking point. Rebollo claimed that Better Noise Music had acted with “ill intent” by releasing the cover just days after Parton’s death. He later realized he had spoken without having all the information needed to understand the situation.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school in participating areas. Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly started the library in 1995 for children in her home county. By the time of her death in August 2026, the Imagination Library had gifted more than 332 million children’s books to babies and kids in all 50 states and four other countries: Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.
