Ndlovu Youth Choir pay tribute to Dolly Parton (video)

The Ndlovu Youth Choir has paid tribute to late country music legend Dolly Parton with a vibrant South African rendition of her iconic hit Jolene.

The South African choir shared the performance on social media this week, giving Parton’s beloved classic an unmistakably African flavour.

Watch below – and turn up the volume!

The tribute comes after Parton’s death at the age of 80, with fans around the world mourning the country music icon and celebrating her extraordinary legacy.

READ | New details emerge about Dolly Parton’s cause of death

A proudly South African take on a classic

The Ndlovu Youth Choir’s version of Jolene combines the song’s familiar melody with the group’s trademark harmonies, choreography and energetic performance style.

The accompanying video was filmed in a village setting, featuring the choir performing in colourful coordinated outfits alongside dancers.

An aerial shot showing the performers forming a heart added an emotional touch to the tribute.

Interestingly, Jolene is not new territory for the acclaimed choir.

Ndlovu Youth Choir previously recorded its own version of the song, with the track appearing on its Africa album. The choir’s biography describes the recording as a fresh take on Parton’s country classic.

Fans moved by Dolly tribute

The performance has prompted an emotional response from viewers, with South Africans and international fans praising the choir for honouring Parton in a distinctly African way.

One viewer described it as a tribute Parton herself would have loved, while others said the performance made them proud to be South African.

The timing has given the choir’s rendition an added poignancy, turning a previously recorded favourite into a heartfelt farewell to one of music’s most recognisable figures.

Ndlovu’s global musical appeal

The Ndlovu Youth Choir has built an international reputation for taking familiar songs and transforming them through African musical influences.

Its repertoire includes South African classics alongside global hits, with the choir’s 2026 performances featuring songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Higher Love, Circle of Life, Waka Waka and Nessun Dorma.

That ability to bridge cultures has become a defining feature of the choir – and its Jolene tribute is another example of how a global classic can be given a distinctly Mzansi identity.

For Dolly Parton fans, it is a colourful and emotional reminder of the reach of her music – and of how her songs continue to resonate far beyond the country music world.