Dolly Parton teases possible Beyoncé cover of 'Jolene' in “Renaissance: Act II”

The country icon "heard" and "thinks" and "hopes" that Queen Bey has recorded a version of her hit song.

Beyoncé's country renaissance could include the queen of country music herself.

Dolly Parton has shared that she heard through the grapevine that Beyoncé will cover her 1973 hit "Jolene" for Act II of Renaissance, releasing March 29. Amidst speculation about whether Beyoncé' will collaborate with Parton or cover one of her songs, Knox News asked Parton herself if the rumors were true.

“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 said, clarifying with more careful language that she "heard" and "thinks" and "hopes" that the singer has covered the classic song. Whether or not the Grammy winner recorded the cover will be determined once the album drops.

Parton, who has been vocal in the past about her desire for Beyoncé to cover "Jolene," added that the two have kept in contact. “We've kind of sent messages back and forth through the years," she revealed. "And she and her mother were like fans, and I was always touched that they were fans, and I always thought she was great.”

The country icon sent Beyoncé a congratulatory message of support last month after she became the first Black woman to hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart with "Texas Hold 'Em." (Her second single from the country Act II, "16 Carriages," also made the list at No. 9.) "I'm a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she's done a country album," Parton said at the time. "Can't wait to hear the full album!"

Though Beyoncé's foray into the genre has drawn criticism from some country fans ("Daddy Lessons" would like a word), Parton defended the artist. '“A lot of people don't realize Beyoncé is a country girl," said Parton. "She's from Texas. 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?”

Parton is, of course, also no stranger to playing with different genres. She released her first rock album Rockstar last year, which topped Billboard's Top Country Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts following its November debut. Parton also recently collaborated with Pitbull on "Powerful Women," which samples her "9 to 5."

Related content:

• Dolly Parton congratulates Beyoncé on her historic No. 1 on country chart

• Dolly Parton's birthday gift to fans is an expanded version of Rockstar

• Sorry, BeyHive and Swifties — Beyoncé and Taylor Swift aren't collaborating on Renaissance: Act II

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.