Bad Wolves are facing backlash after their record label, Better Noise Music, released the band’s cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” The release came just days after guitarist AJ Rebollo departed the group, citing his opposition to the song.
The controversy began when Better Noise Music confirmed the cover was officially out, framing the release around a charitable donation tied to Parton’s legacy.
“Bad Wolves’ cover of ‘Jolene’ by Dolly Parton is out everywhere now,” the label’s announcement read. “Proceeds from the song will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, helping provide free books to children around the world.”
The announcement quickly drew criticism from fans, many of whom felt the timing and circumstances of the release were inappropriate given the band’s internal turmoil.
“Disgusting move on the labels end,” one fan commented on the post.
Other fans expressed mixed feelings, acknowledging the quality of the music while questioning the decision to proceed without the band’s full backing.
“I mean, it sounds awesome, but releasing a song against the band’s wishes is really sad. I was so excited for AJ with Bad Wolves,” another fan wrote.
A third commenter pointed directly to the connection between the release and Rebollo’s exit from the band.
“AJ left over this by the way,” the fan said.
The backlash intensified as attention turned to Rebollo’s own account of the events leading to his departure. In a previous statement, he detailed his long-standing disagreements with the band’s direction, culminating in the label’s handling of the Parton cover.
“I have been at odds with one too many decisions being made for the band for quite some time, but the final nail in the coffin was the label’s decision to move forward with the upcoming Dolly Parton cover, after we blatantly expressed our opposition,” Rebollo said.
He explained that the band’s opposition to the release grew stronger after Parton’s death. The planned collaboration with her was no longer possible.
“We, as an entity, told the label we had no interest in releasing the cover after learning of Dolly’s unfortunate passing as her collaboration on the song was no longer a possibility, and we felt it would (understandably) be interpreted as somewhat of a capitalization on her passing from an outside perspective,” Rebollo continued. “They went ahead and posted that we were releasing it anyway, despite efforts from more than one member, myself included, to oppose it.”
Rebollo’s departure and the label’s decision mark the latest chapter in a turbulent stretch for Bad Wolves. The dispute extends well beyond the “Jolene” controversy and reflects deeper tensions between the band and Better Noise Music.
Rebollo made clear that his frustration was not limited to the Parton cover alone but stemmed from a broader pattern of decisions being made “FOR this band by the label” rather than by the members themselves. His exit reflects a growing rift between the band and its label over creative control. This rift had been building for some time before reaching its breaking point with the “Jolene” release.
Better Noise Music, for its part, has defended the release by insisting Parton herself had given her blessing to the project before her death. The label maintains that Parton listened to the arrangement weeks earlier, approved of it, and was excited about the collaboration. Better Noise Music frames the eventual release as a tribute that honored her wishes rather than a decision made without her involvement.
The label’s account stands in direct contrast to Rebollo’s version of events, deepening the dispute over how the cover came to be released and who ultimately had the final say.
Bad Wolves have also been dropped from Skillet’s upcoming fall tour, compounding the band’s troubles. The separate controversy emerged around the same time as Rebollo’s exit. The shakeup centers on new frontwoman Sara “Killboy” Skinner. Her OnlyFans account became a point of contention among Skillet’s fanbase and ultimately led to Bad Wolves being pulled from the lineup.
Bad Wolves find themselves navigating one of the most turbulent periods in the band’s recent history amid the loss of a high-profile tour slot and the fallout from Rebollo’s departure. Both internal and external pressures are mounting at once.
