In 2008, the singer told NPR that the inspiration behind "Jolene" was a pretty bank teller whom she and Dean met long ago.

Dolly Parton has explained that her 1973 hit "Jolene" was inspired by her husband Carl Thomas Dean, who has died at age 82.

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Simplicity is key to the song’s appeal. “It’s just the same word over and over,” Parton told NPR. “Even a first-grader or a baby can sing, 'Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene'. It's like, how hard can ...

So what is your name?' And she said, 'Jolene.' And I said, 'Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.' I said, 'That is pretty. That ...

And she said, ‘Jolene.’" "And I said, well, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. I said, that is pretty, I said, that sounds like a song. I'm going to write a song about that." "Jolene" became one of ...

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And she said, 'Jolene.' And I said, 'Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.' I said, 'That is pretty. That sounds like a song. I'm going to write a song about that.'" In the song, Parton sings that ...

courtesy Dolly Parton Dolly Parton's famed ballad, "Jolene," was "loosely based on a little bit of truth" by a woman who had a crush on the singer's late husband, Carl Dean. Dean's death was ...