NRT briefing
Dolly Parton's niece wants to learn Welsh after singing with Bronwen Lewis
Based on reporting by BBC News.
The Brief
Dolly Parton's niece, country singer Jada Star from Tennessee, has said she wants to learn Welsh after recording a Welsh-language version of "Jolene" with singer Bronwen Lewis. The track was recorded before Parton's death on 25 August and features vocals from Parton herself, alongside Star and Lewis, from Blaendeulais. Since the song's release, the pair are receiving congratulations from both sides of the Atlantic.
Star said she began learning Welsh on Duolingo, with early words including shwmae and diolch, and said she would like to "roam every inch of Wales" and perhaps visit the Eisteddfod. She travelled from Cardiff to Caernarfon and Conwy after meeting Lewis during Pride Cymru, having first connected after Lewis saw a video on TikTok of Lewis singing the song in Welsh.
Lewis said Star's attitude towards the language was "so healthy," adding that "the fact that she wanted to and was interested was heartening."
BBC News reported on 11 October 2026 that Star said she has been "emotional all day" since the release, and received messages from Wales that "mean the world" to her. Star said some of her favourite Welsh words so far are draig (dragon) and pilipala (butterfly).