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"Jolene" by Dolly Parton and Beyoncé

The term "girl code" wasn't around when Dolly Parton released "Jolene" in 1973, but if the phrase were ever looking for a theme song, it definitely has one in this iconic classic. "Jolene" tells the story of Parton's appeal to a beautiful, auburn-haired bank teller who seems willing and able to win the heart of Parton's husband. Parton's appeal to Jolene is a simple one: "Please don't take him just because you can."

Susan Rivera

This fourth season of Cover Story is kicking off with a look at "Jolene," a song that has easily become a karaoke belter — and not just for country music fans. Beyoncé released her own version of the song earlier this year on her album "Cowboy Carter." Those are the two versions Stephanie Shonekan discusses with Susan Rivera, the dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the University of Maryland.

Beyoncé's version of “Jolene” is a true re-imagining. Instead of begging Jolene to step back, Beyoncé makes demands. But does that make Dolly Parton's appeal any less powerful? Shonekan and Rivera dive into the complexities of the artists' approach to the song and how it's musicality — and message — are a little different five decades apart.

"This concept of not mistaking kindness for weakness is something that is really real to me, because as I've gone through my career and became a leader and in higher education, too, it's the same sort of issue. Like, don't, don't mistake it, right? I'm a pretty nice person, but that's not the same as being weak, right?" - Susan Rivera

Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan is produced by Katelynn McIlwain, Janet Saidi, Ryan Famuliner, Aaron Hay, Nat Kuhn, Mark Johnson and Stephanie Shonekan. This season was edited by Aaron Hay, Janet Saidi and Ryan Famuliner.

This podcast is a collaboration between KBIA and Vox Magazine, with funding from the University of Maryland College of Arts and Humanities, MU’s College of Arts & Science, and the Missouri School of Journalism.  

You can follow the podcast and other special projects on Instagram @kbianews.


“Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan” Season 1 was produced by Janet Saidi, Kristofor Husted, Fernando Narro, Rehman Tungekar, and Ryan Famuliner, with host and producer Stephanie Shonekan. Season 1 was edited by Rehman Tungekar and Ryan Famuliner.

“Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan” Season 2 was produced by Janet Saidi, Ryan Famuliner, Aaron Hay, and Stephanie Shonekan. Season 2 was edited by Aaron Hay and Ryan Famuliner.

"Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan" Season 3 was produced by Katelynn McIlwain, Janet Saidi, Ryan Famuliner, Aaron Hay and Nat Kuhn, with host and producer Stephanie Shonekan. Season 3 was edited by Aaron Hay and Ryan Famuliner.

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Cover Story - Season 4 Music Historypodcast
Katelynn McIlwain, originally from Freeport, Illinois (go Pretzels!), is the managing editor for KBIA. She assists KBIA newsroom leaders in planning, supervising and producing news programming for radio broadcast, including daily news and in-depth reports, as well as public affairs programming.
Janet Saidi is a producer and professor at KBIA and the Missouri School of Journalism.
Ryan served as the KBIA News Director from February 2011 to September 2023
Aaron worked as a full-time on-air host at KBIA from 2017 to 2022. He continues as the Managing Producer on High Turnout Wide Margins.