Release Date: January 16, 2026 Streaming everywhere
Mean Jolene
A continuation of a story you thought you knew.
What happened after Jolene stole her man?
This isn’t a retelling of Jolene — it’s the woman years later, with one brief memory of the day he left and the rest of the song rooted in present-day clarity.
I was raised in a house where music wasn’t a hobby; it was a daily ritual. Classic country spun on repeat, and those roots show up in every melody I write.
Written in 2025 and released January 16, 2026, “Mean Jolene” is a cheeky, modern continuation of the story behind one of country music’s most beloved classics.
Written, composed, and performed by country-pop artist Heidi Vincent, the song was created as an ode to the legendary Dolly Parton, with vocal tributes to the incomparable Patsy Cline and a playful nod to Stan Jones’ iconic yodelling tradition.
“I had hoped to present the song to Dolly’s team, but sadly, that opportunity never came. Knowing Dolly’s extraordinary spirit, her generosity toward fellow artists, her quick wit, her big heart, and her lifelong commitment to lifting others up, I like to think she might have appreciated the humour and playful twist I brought to her timeless story.”
— Heidi Vincent
Country-Pop Singer-Songwriter
Dolly has always represented so much more than music. She embodies kindness without pretence, confidence without cruelty, and the beautiful ability to laugh, create, and make others feel welcome. Her influence reaches far beyond the stage, inspiring generations of artists to find their own voices while honouring the roots that came before them.
Blending retro country heart with a contemporary edge, Mean Jolene is a little love letter to a legend, made with admiration, a dose of sass, and a whole lot of heart. The first time I heard Dolly sing “Jolene,” I was just a kid picturing that flame-haired beauty who could steal a man with a single glance. But I always wondered…
Did she take him? And what happened after she took him?
Well, here’s my answer.
“Mean Jolene” picks up where Dolly left off — and now Jolene’s stuck with the man she fought for. Dedicated with love (and mischief) to Dolly and Patsy — thank you for the blueprints.
Drums were tracked in Nashville by Lee Kelley, who most recently has been touring with Hank Williams Jr., just steps from Ole Red’s — which felt perfect, since that’s exactly where Jolene’s trouble begins in my version of the story. Jerry Wong, who is currently touring as an IEM engineer with Loverboy, brought the fire on electric guitar, while Winston Hauschild pulled the whole track together, playing keys, bass, and acoustic guitar and producing the song with a mix of retro swagger and modern attitude.
Recorded at TreeHouse Studios on Bowen Island, with that Nashville punch, “Mean Jolene” is a country song with grit and retro heart — for every woman who loved hard, got burned, cried… and then realized she’d dodged a damn bullet.
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