I personally thought she did fine, but that’s just me.
Ella Langley’s take on Dolly Parton classic is drawing criticism from some viewers.
She delivered one of the key musical tributes to Dolly on a televised tribute to the Queen of Country…CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton,” on October 21, 2026 in Nashville.
Ella stepped onstage in a flowing gown with glittering sleeves, and she performed “Jolene” with a unique twist. She stood alone in the spotlight at center stage, backed by a full band and singers. Her tribute of course prompted some viewers to share their disappointment online, with many commentators criticizing her rendition for not doing justice to one of Dolly’s signature songs.
X user @IDanishCamille wrote, “I love Ella but [in my opinion] she did a HORRIBLE job with Jolene, horrible performance. Saying she stole the show is the words of a tunnel vision fan.”
X user @mercurywilde wrote, “like ok you’re singing the lyrics and (barely) hitting the notes but that’s kinda all there is to it. give it some yearning, put some drama into it, make ONE facial expression.”
And X account @countryL1imits prompted a little debate with some country music fans by asking, “is she just paying respects to Dolly, or did she butcher this?”