Welsh singer-songwriter Bronwen Lewis, initially performing Welsh renditions of Dolly Parton’s songs, recently achieved a milestone by collaborating with the renowned country music icon herself.
Lewis, hailing from Wales, began sharing her covers of Dolly Parton’s tracks online approximately two years ago. Her interpretation of “Jolene” garnered attention from Jada Star, Parton’s niece and a singer, leading to a collaboration with Dolly Parton on a new Welsh rendition of the song.
Describing the experience as surreal, Lewis expressed gratitude for Parton’s belief in the project. The freshly released Welsh version of “Jolene,” featuring vocals in Welsh from Parton, marks the country legend’s second posthumous song release and one of her final recordings before passing away at 80 years old in August.
Jada Star commended Lewis’s talent, emphasizing the respect shown in Lewis’s rendition of “Jolene,” which resonated with Parton. The collaboration, which also involved Parton’s niece, was a significant opportunity for Lewis, who acknowledged the rarity of such a chance to work with a music icon like Dolly Parton.
The Welsh language, with a rich history predating the Roman Empire, faced suppression for centuries in Britain until the Welsh Language Act 1967. Presently, around 17.8% of the Welsh population speaks Welsh, as per the country’s 2021 census.
Lewis highlighted the pride associated with the Welsh language and culture, expressing hopes that the collaboration with Dolly Parton will showcase the emotional universality of music across languages and foster greater understanding and connection among diverse communities.
