Dolly Parton Gives Beyoncé Her Blessing To Cover This Hit Song

Dolly Parton has reportedly permitted Beyoncé to record one of her biggest hits for her upcoming country music album.

Known primarily for her decades-long career in country music, Parton, 78, has had 25 number-one hits, including "9 to 5," "Jolene," and "I Will Always Love You."

Now, as Beyoncé is getting ready to release her very first country music album, the queen of country has supposedly given Queen Bey her blessing to record one of her biggest hits to date.

The former Destiny's Child member shocked the world after she released two country songs on February 11, and later revealed an entire country music album is in the works -- which will be released later this month.

"Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages" are Beyoncé's newest country songs, however, the release has left many divided, with some country music radio stations even refusing to play the songs. Despite the backlash, “Texas Hold ’Em” has spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 thus far, becoming Beyoncé’s ninth No. 1 hit.

There is one country music star who is backing Queen Bey, and of course, it's the one and only Dolly Parton.

Dolly Parton has hinted that Beyoncé may have recorded her 1974 hit "Jolene" for her upcoming album, and she fully supports it!

“Well, I think she has! I think she's recorded ‘Jolene’ and I think it's probably gonna be on her country album, which I'm very excited about that,” Parton told Knox News on March 8.

“I love her!” Parton continued. “She's a beautiful girl and a great singer.”

The 78-year-old later revealed that she and the "Halo" singer have been in touch over the years, and Parton had always wanted Queen Bey to cover the song.

“We've kind of sent messages back and forth through the years. And she and her mother were like fans, and I was always touched that they were fans," the "9 to 5" singer said, adding, "and I always thought she was great.”

“I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album,” Parton also wrote in a statement on Instagram. “So, congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single.”

While many are annoyed that Beyoncé is going country, Parton fully supports the "Single Ladies" artist, especially since she is a country girl at heart, being from Houston, Texas.

“A lot of people don't realize Beyoncé is a country girl. She's from Texas,” Parton said of Beyoncé. “I think we belong wherever we can do good, and her song is number one across every chart in the whole world, I think. So, I mean, who can argue with that?”

While some country music radio stations have refused to play Queen Bey's new songs, fans have come together, demanding that to change.

Records have shown that only eight of the 150 stations who report to Billboard’s Country Airplay chart played the song “Texas Hold ‘Em” one day after its release -- and that isn't sitting well with fans. So much so, that they started a petition, and it has gained over 27,000 signatures!

The petition, created by Jensine Gomez, claims “racism, revisionist history, and gatekeeping" are to blame.

“First, Apple Music categorized the songs in the ‘Pop music’ category when the songs are clearly country. And when fans started requesting Beyoncé’s new songs at their local country stations, many of their requests were rejected,” the petition states.

“The country music industry must finally reckon with its own racism and anti-Blackness, acknowledge the roots of the country music genre in Black history, and celebrate Black artists reclaiming a genre they birthed,” Gomez said in the petition.

Adding, “Correctly categorizing and honoring Beyoncé’s new songs as country is just one small step toward progress, and an opportunity for us to keep pushing, educating, and fighting for change that will pave the way for other Black country artists for generations to come.”

The petition has gained over 27,000 signatures.