THE NAME YOU KNOW. THE STORY YOU DON'T
The Original Jolene: Life Behind the Lyrics
Reel created by my daughter, Emma Reeves
Welcome to The Original Jolene's Website
For decades, the name Jolene has resonated through the airwaves,
a testament to a woman whose beauty captivated the husband of a legend.
The name "Jolene" really came from a little girl in Michigan she met at a
concert in 1971. I am that Jolene, the original inspiration behind Dolly Parton's
timeless hit.
About The Original Jolene
I am the original "Jolene" who met Dolly Parton in 1971 at a concert in Michigan. Our brief encounter left a lasting imprint on my life. As the years passed, her iconic song "Jolene" became one of the most famous country and pop hits of all time. I truly hoped that Dolly and I would have an opportunity to have a reunion. Unfortunately, her recent passing has changed the end of my story.
I am still in shock and completely devastated over the loss of such an amazing icon in this world. I believe she was truly one of the greatest women in the world, especially with her incredible talent and her Imaginiation Library.
This story carries an emotional and cultural significance - it's a blend of nostalgia, music history, and heartfelt connection. I believe Dolly's fans would be intrigued to learn more about the girl behind the name and how those few moments at a concert affected my life forever.
Read It and Rant Podcast Review of
The Original Jolene: Life Behind the Lyrics
Tony DAgostino is the host of the Read It and Rant Podcast - follow him on all socials to learn about his incredible story as a single father of special needs children and who also loves to cook and share his recipes.
Where to buy my book:
Click on any of the links below to purchase:
Check Out These 5-Star Reviews:
This book was a breath of fresh air! It touched on many points in her life and she was honest, funny and I love her story telling. I just know she is going to meet Dolly!!!
I couldn’t put it down. It was so vivid, and personal. It just reminded me how much we as women carry in our hearts and are just longing for the opportunity to just “let it out”. An intimate story about love, loss, resilience, and hope. 100% recommend.
Jolene’s life story immediately draws you in and grips you through the poignant, honest, humorous prose of the author. I devoured her story in 3 short nights and felt like I wanted to be her best friend, give her a hug, and go do something daring. This is a true story of a woman’s vulnerability, strength, and resilience through grief and sorrow, laughter and joy. I highly recommend if you want to be motivated to really live life on your own terms.
Its a no holds barred look at her life, when it came to how the song played a significant role in her life. Along with a few stops along the way.
It can be a tough read in some parts, not because of the skill of writing, but for the raw-ness of the material she covers.
She doesnt hold back.
She still has dreams and aspirations, even with loss and tribulations.
Easy read and certainly worth the time if you want something 'real'
The honesty and vulnerability that Jolene shared is amazing. It's funny (I literally LOL), some parts are sad (I cried) and I commend you. The journey of your life and the growth through all of your adversity is amazing. So if you want a heartfelt, truthful, thoughtful, and humorous book to read, this is it! The mystery is over, the real Jolene has arrived and looking forward to reuniting with Dolly!!!!
Great read! All the feels are in this book!
I laughed, cried and sympathized with Jolene's story! I felt empowered by her resilience and strength! Available in both hard and soft cover - I purchased one of each! Very humble and kind writer.
An Uplifting Story to Make Dolly Proud!
Learn the details of the first Jolene encounter that got Dolly thinking about Jolene. Who around the world has not wondered about the “real” Jolene? Not only is she here but read her story while laughing and crying out loud, mostly being inspired by a life that even Dolly would be thrilled to know. Buy the book, fill in the gaps and meet JOLENE!
The author shared different happenings in her life that quickly draw you in intimately.
This book is written in such a way that you feel like you’re sitting in Jolene‘s living room with her hearing her story.
I’m invested in the outcome of her dream to reunite with Dolly Parton.
The serendipitous meeting with Dolly Parton is only one of the many exciting stories in this FANTASTIC book! The ORIGINAL Jolene will make you laugh, cry and remind you of the tenacity of the human spirit! Jolene's story is heartwarming, inspiring and entertaining. A must read for Dolly fans and anyone who loves a great memoir!
Delightful and heartfelt. A beautiful memoir of a beautiful person triumphing over tragedy. Dolly clearly saw something special. Dolly... we want a reunion.
Where it all started:
The Name You Know. The Story You Don't.
In 1971, a frightened little girl became separated from her sister in a crowd at a country music concert. One artist noticed and stepped in to help.
That artist was Dolly Parton.
A brief conversation about a unique name sparked an unexpected promise, one that would eventually become part of music history.
That moment was only the beginning.
The Original Jolene: Life Behind the Lyrics shares the remarkable true story behind one of the most recognizable names in music and the extraordinary life that followed.
The Original Jolene
Enjoy the links to versions of the song Jolene!
Contact me
E-mail: Jolene@theoriginaljolene.com