A Cake for Beyoncé, Miley and Dolly
“Jolene” Faces the Music
Strangers have been singing to me for fifty years.
Thanks to the magnetic sparkle and talent of Dolly Parton, I’ve been the recipient of a lifetime of random goodwill and a sprinkling of stardust-by-association when people learn my name.
Spontaneous serenades — goofy bursts of song by amused people I’ve just met— continue to this day. The most memorable so far came from a customs agent at the airport in Ireland who looked at my passport, smiled, sang the “Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Joleeeene” part and handed me back my documents.
I was a 20 year-old college student in 1974 when Jolene was released. I’d been the kid who could never find a keychain with her name on it like all the other kids did—and now, a whole song —with my name? I didn’t even care that Jolene was the hussy villain in this saga.
My parents named me after a hat shop in Quebec they’d visited on their honeymoon in 1953. This always struck me as both charming and funny. When I asked why, they said they just liked the sound of it. This seemed to me as good a reason as any.
There have been dozens of covers of Jolene. Dolly’s goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, released one of my favorites in 2012.
And now, Beyoncé (with Dolly making an appearance on the track and calling Beyoncé “Ms. Honey Bee”) does a fantastic version that refreshes and reimagines the conversation with new lyrics. This Jolene is about to face the music. There’s no “beggin” not to take her man here. Jolene is flat-out told: “I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man.”
Former Editor of Billboard and Vibe Magazine,
has been writing not just about this new version of Jolene, but about the entire Cowboy Carter album, and it’s great stuff. You can find Danyel at ShineBrightHQ here on Substack.A Cake for Dolly, Miley & Beyoncé
So what did I make to celebrate these supremely talented, powerhouse women who just happened to record my three favorite covers of Jolene? Baking while listening to the album and later serving to members of my family who loved it?
Cake fit for a Queen, of course. Literally, Victoria Sponge Cake —named for Queen Victoria. The classic version is filled with strawberry or raspberry jam. But I wanted something else for this cake.
In 1984, Dolly was interviewed by her friend Andy Warhol for Interview magazine:
Warhol: What’s your favorite color?
Parton: I have two — white and yellow. White makes me feel light and airy. Yellow makes me feel happy.
The filling for this cake would have to be white and yellow.
On Beyoncé’s 2016 album Lemonade, her grandmother-in-law, Hattie White, is heard on the track Freedom saying:
I was served lemons, so I made Lemonade.
So that’s it. Yellow and white - Lemons for Lemon Curd and Sweetened Whipped Cream.
And for Miley? Flowers — Springtime Daffodils—to decorate the table and to celebrate her first Grammy Award for a song I love: Flowers. In The Language of Flowers, the Victorian dictionary, Daffodils symbolize rebirth, hope and new beginnings —so that sounds just right.
The Vicky Sponge recipe is courtesy of the great Claire Ptak Claire Ptak’s Substack and you can find the recipe: HERE Also, there is the recipe for the classic filling.
For the cream: Use 1 and 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream and 1-2 tablespoons confectioners sugar, depending on how sweet you’d like it. The added benefit of the confectioners sugar is that the little bit of cornstarch in it helps stabilize the whipped cream.
The Lemon Curd is a recipe I really like from Sally’s Baking Addiction/Sally’s Baking Recipes. I recommend making homemade lemon curd, but it is available in stores if you prefer. Recipe: HERE
Miley also appears on Cowboy Carter and this duet with Beyoncé, II MOST WANTED is one of my favorite songs on it. Their harmony is absolutely gorgeous and I found myself really moved by it. I’ve attached a link below.
Seeing Dolly
I’m no longer a brunette, but I remain an enthusiastic dork, one who proudly wears theme-appropriate t-shirts to concerts. In 2016, a couple of weeks before I moved to Chicago, my high school friend MJ and I went to see Dolly at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium. At the end of Jolene, Dolly roared to the adoring crowd, “Jolene, you shameless hussy!!!!”
The place erupted. During the entire concert the crowd was so into it, so happy, the energy was palpable and the singing along was LOUD.
Those who make music share such a powerful soul-to-soul magic with us, and in a group of concertgoers all feeling it together simultaneously, that magic goes off the charts.
Apparently feeling it that night too, Dolly said something along the lines of, “wouldn’t it be great if there was more of this feeling in the world?”
It sure would.
Here’s to the music makers, with gratitude to you all. Especially you, Dolly.
So I invite you to make a cake and have a listening party of whatever music you love with your friends and family or just for you.
In this mad world, a little sweetness and music go a long way.
See you soon!
Jolene, Jolene
Sources:
I love everything about this. The lemon cake (my favorite)! Beyonce! Jolene!
I loved this, Jolene! Your name! Dolly! That cake!!! 😍 I looove making lemon curd. It is the one thing I make that always comes out exceptional. Definitely going to try out this recipe.