Ella Langley Honors Dolly Parton With Unforgettable TV Performance Of “Jolene”
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Ella Langley is arguably one of today’s biggest country stars, so it is only fitting that she would be part of a celebration honoring Dolly Parton, a woman who paved the way for new female country artists like herself.
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Ella Langley was part of a star-studded lineup that gathered at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday (Oct. 21) to memorialize Dolly Parton.
The two-hour televised event, titled CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, was jam-packed with performances, stories, and footage from Dolly’s life and career. Among the other performers were Vince Gill, Zac Brown, Ashley McBryde, Carrie Underwood, Carly Pearce, Lainey Wilson, Ricky Skaggs, and more.
Ella Langley’s Tribute to Dolly Parton
Following Dolly Parton’s death on August 25, 2026, Ella shared a heartfelt post about the “I Will Always Love You” singer, thanking her for “standing up for yourself … as a woman in this industry.”
“You paved the way for so many to be brave. Thank you for being unafraid to show your most authentic self. The world needed Dolly and will never see another like it. The gates of heaven just welcomed home a beautiful soul,” Ella wrote.
During a concert a week later at Auburn University, Langley treated attendees to a rendition of Dolly’s 1974 hit, “Jolene.”
@emily.these.days Last night in Auburn, @Ella Langley said, “Tonight’s show didn’t feel right without doing something like this” and proceeded to sing “Jolene” in honor of @Dolly Parton. One of my favorite moments from the night 🦋 #ellalangley #dollyparton #concert #auburn #fyp ♬ original sound – Emily 🦋
Ella revisited the song “Jolene” once again during Wednesday’s CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton. The song was one of Dolly’s biggest hits and tells the real-life story of a red-headed bank teller who was flirting with Dolly’s husband.
In an interview in 2023, Dolly said of her husband’s reaction to the song, “He was a little embarrassed when I wrote the song ‘Jolene’ because, actually, it wasn’t as serious [as it seems]. I was just jealous ’cause she was a beautiful woman and he was just flirting.”
“Jolene” was ranked on Rolling Stones’ “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” at No. 63 in 2021. The song has been covered by Miley Cyrus, Pentatonix, Beyoncé, Olivia Newton-John, and more.
Ella Langley Sings “Jolene” for CMA Special
Prior to Wednesday night’s live television special, Lara Spencer revealed Ella Langley’s song choice, saying that the rest of the lineup was “top secret.”
The news was met with excitement from fans who were thrilled to know that one of country music’s biggest stars would be covering one of the genre’s biggest hits.
Ella delivered a spunky and sultry version of the song while dressed in a gorgeous white gown. She even threw a few little dance moves into the performance, giving it an extra flirty vibe.
Watch a short clip of Ella’s performance below.
Let us know what you thought of the performance if you happened to catch it when it aired!
