Photo: ashtronot
Belles shared the still-unbelievable moment she met Dolly Parton on Instagram on Wednesday (April 8).
The rising country artist teamed up with the beloved legend on “Son of Jolene,” a song she wrote to continue the story Parton first shared in the 1970s. Belles wrote in her caption on Wednesday that “some dreams don’t feel real until you’re standing in them. This one still doesn’t.”
“It’s about time I meet you!” Parton exclaimed when she met Belles. “I’m so happy to be singing this song. This is so clever. It’s a great song. …I’m happy to meet you, happy to see you, happy to be singing with you.”
Belles wrote “Son of Jolene” “as a clever, character-driven continuation of the classic story, imagining a chance encounter years later with Jolene’s son. Blending vivid storytelling with a modern country edge, the song honors the spirit of the original track while introducing a fresh perspective,” states a press release issued earlier this year. The collaboration will follow Belles self-titled EP, and arrives ahead of her debut studio album.
“I grew up so inspired by Dolly and the worlds she created through her songs,” Belles said in a statement. “Having her lend her voice to this record is beyond anything I could have imagined. It feels like a full-circle moment and a true honor.”
“Son of Jolene” will arrive on Friday, April 17. Watch the moment Belles met Parton here: